Family communication patterns theory (FCPT) explores how family members communicate to create a shared social reality via conversation and conformity orientations. Recently, scholars have noted that the current conceptualization operationalization of orientation is unnecessarily narrow in scope by representing as controlling repressive, rather than cultivating homogenous attitudes, beliefs, values among members. To address these concerns, we tested factor structure most common measure FCPT...

With approximately 20 % of pregnancies ending in loss, miscarriage is a relatively common and stressful occurrence. Because romantic partners’ coping efforts are intimately connected, the way one partner copes with other’s has important implications for individual relational well-being. Grounded communicated sense-making (CSM) model, current study investigated how cis-gender men heterosexual marriages (n = 45) communicatively constructed meaning their wife’s through metaphors. Analysis...

Societal expectations of self-care and responsible actions toward others may produce bias against those who engage in perceived self-harming behavior. This is especially true for health professionals, have dedicated themselves to helping reduce the burden illness suffering. Research has shown that writing narratives can increase perspective taking empathy other people, which engender more positive attitudes. Two studies examined whether creating a fictional narrative about woman smokes...

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Polish people were tasked with making sense war in close proximity while supporting millions Ukrainian refugees fleeing to Poland. In times distress, such as and refugee crises, intergenerational storytelling helps make their experience. Interviews 28 adults during first five months revealed that family prompted them to: cope war, connect help others. These narrative functions informed by various levels culture, proposed ecological systems...

The current study integrates communicated narrative sense-making (CNSM) theory with the ecological systems model to investigate intergenerational family storytelling (IGFS) in Palestinian families. Amidst historical and ongoing persecution, members of diaspora are tasked making sense their cultural familial experiences. This aims understand how IGFS affects members' meanings, values, beliefs related identity. Interviews 25 Palestinians U.S. revealed that was unified under "sumud" – a concept...

The overarching goal of the current study was to determine impact talking interpersonally over time on emerging adults' individual and relational health. Using an expressive writing design (see Frattaroli, 2006), we assessed degree which psychological health improved for college students who told listened stories about friends' difficulties in comparison with tellers control conditions. We also investigated effects tellers' listeners' perceptions each other's communication competence,...

Drawing from family communication patterns (FCP) theory and the communication-based conceptual model of adoptive identity work (Colaner & Soliz, 2015), we investigated ways that families’ adoption-focused general environment predict self-esteem in adult adoptees (n = 143). Specifically, tested assumption FCP (i.e., conversation conformity orientation) serve as a backdrop for adoption openness work. Structural equation modeling revealed orientation—but not orientation—significantly predicted...

This study proposes two complementary writing activities designed to reduce affective polarization and malevolent outgroup attributions. The strategies draw on narrative theorizing intergroup contact theory. Our intervention is low cost can be effectively administrated in educational settings combat the deleterious effects of political polarization. In this four-group between-subjects randomized experiment (n = 179), we found that a first-person perspective taking exercise common ingroup...

ABSTRACTABSTRACTGrounded in communicated narrative sense-making (CNSM) theory and communication of resilience (CTR), the current study investigated how women narratively constructed surrounding pregnancy during COVID-19 pandemic. Given adverse effects stress on pregnant individuals their babies, it is important to understand triggers process this context. We interviewed 21 cisgender who were pandemic solicit stories resilience. Findings revealed that managed structural, informational,...

Grounded in communicated sense-making (CSM) theorizing, we investigated perspective-taking (CPT; i.e., conversational partners' attendance to and confirmation of each other's views) association with individual relational well-being married couples who had miscarried (n = 183; N 366). Actor–partner interdependence modeling revealed husbands' perceptions wives' CPT were positively related positive affect about the miscarriage both spouses' satisfaction, as well negatively associated affect....

Grounded in communicated narrative sense-making (CNSM) and resilience theorizing, the current study investigated effects of mother-daughter communication on young adult women’s ( n = 60) construction over time. Participants wrote stories difficult experiences at Time 1, discussed story with their mother a research lab two days later, again 2. Inductive analyses daughters’ revealed four themes resilience: acknowledging struggle, taking action, seeking silver lining, finding strength others....

Online dating is common in the United States. We draw on communicated narrative sense-making (CNSM) theory to explore how online daters reflect development of their relationships. Using an oral history interview protocol, we collected courtship stories from 50 U.S. adults who were engaged or married a partner that they met dating. coded for arcs and counter narratives used describe courtship. Our findings uncovered ten capturing different trajectories relationship development. Embedded...

Guided by narrative theorizing, the current study investigated content and process of telling adoption entrance narratives (AENs)—or story how child was born, placed for adoption, integrated into their family—in open adoptive families. Thematic analysis 165 parents’ (mostly mothers) AENs revealed six emergent themes: birth parents as family, chosen parents, forever, rescue, fate, makes us family. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that mothers’ relational satisfaction with parent...

Recent narrative theorizing suggests that humans process their difficult experiences by not only creating stories—called individual sense-making (NSM)—but also telling those stories with others—called communicated (CNSM). The present study investigated the relationship between and NSM to understand effects of interpersonal communication on intrapersonal meaning-making well-being. In this longitudinal, laboratory-based study, 62 mother–daughter pairs wrote discussed daughters' difficulty....

Doulas—or designated women experienced in childbirth who provide support to a birthing mother—have been shown improve mothers' medical outcomes, but they are relatively underused U.S. births. We assert that doulas rarely used, part, because it is difficult situate them within the contemporary master birth narrative places family and staff as expected characters story. This qualitative study uses theorizing describe communicatively situated position of light dominant narrative. Through an...

Grounded in communicated narrative sense-making theory (CNSM), this study explored how women who were pregnant during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 21) communicatively made sense of their experience light received social support. Interview data inductively analyzed for emergent themes and deductively type support tone. Findings uncovered a) connecting to mitigate stress, b) drawing on others' knowledge, c) receiving socially distant instrumental support, d) lacking medical professional Further,...

Investigating the content of communication about food and nutrition in parent–child dyad can provide insight into how roles rules associated with are instantiated within family context. The current study uses an ecological framework to consider multiple levels influence on dietary behavior families. Interviews (N = 33) were conducted parents children from low-income families two different counties a Midwestern state. Interview transcripts analyzed using categories developed framework....

This study focuses on communication surrounding adult adoptees' (N = 127) adoptive identity (comprised of reflective exploration and preoccupation with adoption), shared family identification birth families, self-esteem. A negative correlation emerged between participants' their mother. Family identities were stronger when adoptees higher in lower preoccupation. same combination was related to decreased Adoptive parents' open about adoption preoccupation, strengthened the association mother...

Drawing upon communicated narrative sense-making (CNSM) theory, we explored how husbands and wives narratively make sense of their miscarriage links to well-being. Specifically, analyzed the theme, sequence, similarity related spouses’ perceived stress relational satisfaction. Heterosexual married couples (n = 185; N 370) who had experienced a responded online questionnaires in which they told story pregnancy loss completed measures Seven themes emerged – hope lost, factual, time heals,...

Guided by communicated narrative sense-making (CNSM) theory, we surveyed parents (n= 133) to elicit retrospective stories of their child's coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) and assess perceptions perspective-taking (CPT) during the process. Themes emerging from parents' included casual acceptance, supporting, acknowledging struggle, learning. links individual relational well-being underscored connections between positively-framed storytelling content, resilience,...

Miscarriage occurs in roughly one five pregnancies the United States. Although it is largely considered a "women's issue," non-miscarrying spouses also endure mental and relational health effects of loss. Drawing on communicated narrative sense-making (CNSM) theory, we interviewed heterosexual, cisgender, mostly white, married men (n = 45) to solicit their stories spouse's miscarriage. Six types memorable messages (i.e., that affect values, behaviors and/or beliefs receiver) from social...

Abstract Research highlights the importance of perspective taking as a cognitive ability. A growing body research also suggests that communicated ( CPT )—or how interactional partners acknowledge, attend to, and confirm each others' perspectives during interactions—enables collaborative sense‐making shared difficulties with significant links to individual relational health. The purpose current study was further operationalize construct test relation between well‐being in married couples' n =...

Guided by narrative theorizing, the present study analyzed ways foster parents create and tell entrance narratives (FENs) to their child. Thematic content analyses of 101 parents' FENs illuminated nine emergent themes—birth parent consequences, deep connection, special, untold, birth learning, temporary, pragmatic, forever, better off. Structural equation modeling revealed significant relationships between FEN themes perceptions child adjustment parent–child relational closeness. Findings...