![]() ![]() The role of narrative coherence specifically for traumatic events in PTSD is controversial. Also, other measures of local coherence correlated with well-being in some studies (e.g., Baerger & McAdams, 1999 Koenig Kellas et al., 2010). Most of the studies, however, used written narratives, some of which were elicited online. Using the NaCCS in nonclinical samples, there is a trend for narrative coherence to correlate positively with measures of well-being, sometimes in high, but more specifically in low-point narratives (positive evidence: Booker et al., 2022 Vanaken, Bijttebier, & Hermans, 2021 mixed evidence: Sales et al., 2013 Vanaken, Bijttebier, Fivush, & Hermans, 2021 negative evidence: Chen et al., 2012 Vanderveren et al., 2020), in turning point narratives (positive evidence: Vanaken, Bijttebier, & Hermans, 2021 only thematic coherence: Reese et al., 2017 negative evidence: Mitchell et al., 2020), and in typical events (nuclear episodes positive evidence: Waters & Fivush, 2015). In psychology, the prevailing expectation is that narrative coherence–both of narratives of single events and of entire lives–correlates positively with well-being (e.g., Adler et al., 2016). Baerger and McAdams ( 1999) had devised four partially comparable rating scales. ![]() Thematic coherence indicates how developed the topic of the narrated event is, ideally leading to a high point and resolution. Chronology captures how well the narrative allows following the temporal order of events. Context measures the quality of the description of time and place in which the narrated event took place. ( 2011) conceptualized three dimensions of local narrative coherence: (a) context, (b) chronology, and (c) theme, and developed corresponding rating scales, namely the Narrative Coherence Coding Scheme (NaCCS). ![]() 2 LOCAL COHERENCE OF NARRATIVES OF SINGLE EVENTSīased on story grammar (Stein & Glenn, 1979) and the sociolinguistic model of oral narrative (Labov & Waletzky, 1967), Reese et al. Third, we bring together these perspectives to review what is known specifically about the coherence of narratives by individuals who had experienced CM and specifically of narratives of CM experiences. Then, we present methods to measure the integration of single events into the life story and evidence regarding its correlation with well-being and psychopathology. We first outline three dimensions that describe local coherence of single event narratives as well as findings about its correlation with well-being and psychopathology. The present study explores whether single event narratives of individuals with a history of CM differ in local coherence and in life story integration from narratives by individuals without a history of CM. Narratives of single events can be locally coherent and they may, in addition, be integrated into the life story. When speaking of coherently narrating the personal past, we need to distinguish between the coherence of narrating single experiences and of narrating an entire life story (Habermas & Reese, 2015). Thus, specific experiences of CM might be difficult to narrate coherently due to their disruptive nature, and it might be that CM affects the general ability to process emotional experiences by narrating them. CM is associated with various kinds of psychopathology in adulthood, often mediated by deficits in emotion regulation (Jaffee, 2017 Young & Widom, 2014). CM is generally defined by emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, and neglect (World Health Organization, 2014). While this can be easily achieved for many events, some are challenging to unpack (Pals, 2006), such as experiences of child maltreatment (CM). To do so successfully, narratives need to be more or less coherent. Individuals narrate past autobiographical events to make sense of their experiences and understand how they came to be who they are (McAdams, 2011). ![]() The present study contributes to the literature by confirming that there is no evidence for a lack of coherence among adults' CM narratives, and by highlighting the association between the centrality of the traumatic event in one's life and PTSD symptoms. Narratives of CM were no less coherent than narratives of most stressful childhood experiences in the control group, but were more integrated into the life story, which in turn predicted symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We compared narratives of four different types of emotional childhood experiences. To test these potential effects, we divided a total of 171 students at an English-speaking university in Egypt into two groups, those with a history of CM and those who experienced none. Highly disruptive experiences such as child maltreatment (CM) may be challenging to integrate into the life story and even to narrate coherently just by themselves. Individuals narrate stories to explain how they became who they are, forming their own narrative identity. ![]()
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