The coherence of critical event narratives and adolescents' psychological functioning

Abstract

The present study examined the coherence of low- and high-point life-event narratives among adolescents (aged between 12 and 21 years) and their psychological functioning in terms of well-being and prosocial behaviour. The results showed robust age-related increases in narrative coherence. Age and gender significantly moderated the associations between narrative coherence and psychological functioning. Specifically, higher levels of coherence were significantly associated with prosocial behaviour only for older adolescents. Higher levels of narrative coherence were also associated with lower levels of well-being among adolescent boys, but not among adolescent girls. Results are discussed in terms of why coherent life-event narratives may not be linked to benefits for younger adolescents and for boys, and how low- and high-point life events both contribute to identity construction.

Keywords:

• Narrative coherence
• Development
• Adolescence
• Psychological functioning

Notes

¹We also conducted regression models with MM as the main narrative variable and MM by age (or MM by gender) interactions. There were no main effects of MM in any of the regression models and there were only marginal MM by age interactions.