It's all in the details: An investigation of the subcomponents of narrative coherence in relation to mental health

L. Vanaken; E. Vanderveren; T.E.A. Waters; P. Bijttebier; R. Fivush; D. Hermans

doi:10.1002/acp.3859

It's all in the details: An investigation of the subcomponents of narrative coherence in relation to mental health

L. Vanaken^*, E. Vanderveren, T.E.A. Waters, P. Bijttebier, R. Fivush, D. Hermans

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

The coherence of autobiographical narratives is suggested to be reflective of individuals' mental health. However, inconsistencies in results are regularly observed. Therefore, in this study, the Narrative Coherence Coding Scheme (NaCCS) by Reese et al. (Journal of Cognition and Development, 12, 424-462) was deconstructed and every dimension of coherence was recoded into singular constituting subcomponents. Our new fine-grained scoring scheme allowed us to investigate which particular subcomponents of coherence may be important in the relation to mental health. Data showed that both structural as well as thematic elements of coherence, with in particular the number of emotional elaborations, were important in the association with mental health. Therefore, we recommend for future research to use this specific coding scheme, including most notably the number of emotional elaborations, in order to obtain the most accurate prediction of mental health, to test the replicability of these preliminary findings and to guide targets for narrative-based interventions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1273-1283
Number of pages	11
Journal	Applied Cognitive Psychology
Volume	35
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/acp.3859
Publication status	Published - 1 Sept 2021

Keywords

autobiographical memory
narrative coherence
psychopathology
psychological well-being
subcomponents
AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL MEMORY SPECIFICITY
LIFE STORY
PERSONAL NARRATIVES
STRESSFUL EVENTS
MEANING-MAKING
IDENTITY
DEPRESSION
PSYCHOTHERAPY
ADOLESCENCE
ADAPTATION

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title = "It's all in the details: An investigation of the subcomponents of narrative coherence in relation to mental health",

abstract = "The coherence of autobiographical narratives is suggested to be reflective of individuals' mental health. However, inconsistencies in results are regularly observed. Therefore, in this study, the Narrative Coherence Coding Scheme (NaCCS) by Reese et al. (Journal of Cognition and Development, 12, 424-462) was deconstructed and every dimension of coherence was recoded into singular constituting subcomponents. Our new fine-grained scoring scheme allowed us to investigate which particular subcomponents of coherence may be important in the relation to mental health. Data showed that both structural as well as thematic elements of coherence, with in particular the number of emotional elaborations, were important in the association with mental health. Therefore, we recommend for future research to use this specific coding scheme, including most notably the number of emotional elaborations, in order to obtain the most accurate prediction of mental health, to test the replicability of these preliminary findings and to guide targets for narrative-based interventions.",

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author = "L. Vanaken and E. Vanderveren and T.E.A. Waters and P. Bijttebier and R. Fivush and D. Hermans",

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AU - Vanaken, L.

AU - Vanderveren, E.

AU - Waters, T.E.A.

AU - Bijttebier, P.

AU - Fivush, R.

AU - Hermans, D.

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N2 - The coherence of autobiographical narratives is suggested to be reflective of individuals' mental health. However, inconsistencies in results are regularly observed. Therefore, in this study, the Narrative Coherence Coding Scheme (NaCCS) by Reese et al. (Journal of Cognition and Development, 12, 424-462) was deconstructed and every dimension of coherence was recoded into singular constituting subcomponents. Our new fine-grained scoring scheme allowed us to investigate which particular subcomponents of coherence may be important in the relation to mental health. Data showed that both structural as well as thematic elements of coherence, with in particular the number of emotional elaborations, were important in the association with mental health. Therefore, we recommend for future research to use this specific coding scheme, including most notably the number of emotional elaborations, in order to obtain the most accurate prediction of mental health, to test the replicability of these preliminary findings and to guide targets for narrative-based interventions.

AB - The coherence of autobiographical narratives is suggested to be reflective of individuals' mental health. However, inconsistencies in results are regularly observed. Therefore, in this study, the Narrative Coherence Coding Scheme (NaCCS) by Reese et al. (Journal of Cognition and Development, 12, 424-462) was deconstructed and every dimension of coherence was recoded into singular constituting subcomponents. Our new fine-grained scoring scheme allowed us to investigate which particular subcomponents of coherence may be important in the relation to mental health. Data showed that both structural as well as thematic elements of coherence, with in particular the number of emotional elaborations, were important in the association with mental health. Therefore, we recommend for future research to use this specific coding scheme, including most notably the number of emotional elaborations, in order to obtain the most accurate prediction of mental health, to test the replicability of these preliminary findings and to guide targets for narrative-based interventions.

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KW - psychological well-being

KW - subcomponents

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KW - LIFE STORY

KW - PERSONAL NARRATIVES

KW - STRESSFUL EVENTS

KW - MEANING-MAKING

KW - IDENTITY

KW - DEPRESSION

KW - PSYCHOTHERAPY

KW - ADOLESCENCE

KW - ADAPTATION

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EP - 1283

JO - Applied Cognitive Psychology

JF - Applied Cognitive Psychology

IS - 5

ER -

It's all in the details: An investigation of the subcomponents of narrative coherence in relation to mental health

Abstract

Keywords

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