ABSTRACT

Prior research has shown that narrative coherence is associated with more positive emotional responses in the face of traumatic or stressful experiences. However, most of these studies only examined narrative coherence after the stressor had already occurred. Given the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 in March 2020 in Belgium and the presence of data obtained two years before (February 2018), we could use our baseline narrative coherence data to predict emotional well-being and perceived social support in the midst of the pandemic. In a sample of emerging adults (N_T1= 278, N_T2= 198), higher baseline coherence of narratives about positive autobiographical experiences predicted relative increases in emotional well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the relation between the coherence of positive narratives and emotional well-being was partially mediated by perceived social support. These findings suggest that narrative coherence could be an enhancement factor for adaptive emotional coping with stressful situations, in part by evoking more supportive social reactions. This study demonstrates the importance of researching cognition (narrative coherence) and emotion (well-being) to shed light on pressing societal matters such as the global COVID-19 pandemic.

摘要

先前的研究表明，叙事连贯性与面对创伤或压力经历时更积极的情绪反应有关。然而，这些研究中的大多数只在压力源已经发生后才检查叙事连贯性。鉴于 2020 年 3 月在比利时爆发的新型冠状病毒疾病 COVID-19 以及两年前（2018 年 2 月）获得的数据的存在，我们可以使用我们的基线叙事连贯性数据来预测情绪健康和感知的社会支持。在大流行之中。在一个新兴成年人样本中（N _T1 = 278，N _T2= 198），关于积极的自传经历的叙述的基线一致性较高，预示着在 COVID-19 大流行期间情绪健康的相对增加。此外，积极叙事的连贯性与情感幸福感之间的关系部分地由感知的社会支持来调节。这些研究结果表明，叙事连贯性可能是增强情绪应对压力情况的适应性因素，部分是通过唤起更多支持性的社会反应。这项研究证明了研究认知（叙事连贯性）和情感（幸福感）以阐明紧迫的社会问题（例如全球 COVID-19 大流行）的重要性。