Association between Narrative Meaning Making and Psychological State

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the past events that create a turning point in life and fictional events that can create a turning point in the context of narrative meaning-making style, psychological state and gender. The sample of the study consists of 81 non-clinical volunteers between the ages of 18-35, undergraduate students/graduates. In the study, the participants were asked to write a total of four autobiographical memories, two of which were about the past and two about the future. To measure the psychological state, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Adult Psychological Resilience Scale (PRS), Psychological Wellbeing Scale (PWS), Social Comparison Scale (SCS), Ideal and Real Self-Concept Scale (IRSCS) were applied. As a result of the statistical analysis, thematic coherence in positive memories was found to be associated with scores of BAI in women; with PWS, PRS, and SCS in men and factual elaboration was found to be associated with PRS in women. Interpretative elaboration in negative memories predicted the scores of IRSCS, agency PWS and SCS scores in males.Interpretive elaboration in positive fictional narratives in women with BAI and BDI; with BDI in men; seeking support in negative memories was observed to be associated with BAI in women and BDI in men. In conclusion, the relationships between the meaning-making process and the psychological state have a very specific and complex mechanism, and thematic coherence is a strong predictor of psychological well-being and self-concept. In women, factual elaboration was associated with resilience, and in negative memories, self-connections were associated with the level of social comparison. Women preferred to tell more negative memories, while men preferred more positive memories, and motivational themes came to the fore in men's narratives.

Keywords

• Meaning making
• narrative identity
• self
• psychological well-being
• gender

Anlatısal Anlam Oluşturma ve Psikolojik Durum İlişkisi

Öz

Bu çalışmada, yaşamda dönüm noktası yaratan geçmiş olaylar ile dönüm noktası yaratabilecek kurgusal olayların anlatısal anlam oluşturma tarzı, psikolojik durum ve cinsiyet bağlamında incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini 18-35 yaş arası lisans öğrencisi/ mezunu, klinik olmayan 81 gönüllü oluşturmaktadır. Çalışmada, katılımcılardan ikisi geçmişe, ikisi geleceğe dair toplam dört otobiyografik anı yazmaları istenmiş, psikolojik durumu ölçmek için ise katılımcılara Beck Anksiyete Envanteri (BAE), Beck Depresyon Envanteri (BDE), Yetişkinler İçin Psikolojik Dayanıklılık Ölçeği (PDÖ), Psikolojik İyi Oluş Ölçeği (PİOÖ), Sosyal Karşılaştırma Ölçeği (SKÖ), İdeal ve Gerçek Benlik Kavramı Ölçeği (İGBKÖ) uygulanmıştır. İstatistiki analizler sonucunda, olumlu anılarda tematik tutarlılığın kadınlarda BAE puanlarıyla; erkeklerde PİOÖ, PDÖ ve SKÖ ile; olgusal detaylandırmanın ise kadınlarda PDÖ ile ilişkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Olumsuz anılarda yorumlayıcı detaylandırma erkeklerde İGBKÖgerçek puanlarını, eylemlilik ise PİOÖ ve SKÖ puanlarını anlamlı olarak yordamıştır. Olumlu kurgusal anlatılarda yorumlayıcı detaylandırmanın kadınlarda BAE ve BDE ile; erkeklerde BDE ile; olumsuz anılarda ise destek aramanın kadınlarda BAE ile, erkeklerde BDE ile ilişkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Sonuç olarak, anlam oluşturma süreci ile psikolojik durum arasındaki ilişkilerin oldukça spesifik ve karmaşık bir mekanizmaya sahip olduğu, tematik tutarlılığın psikolojik esenlik ve kendilik kavramının güçlü bir yordayıcısı olduğu gözlenmiştir. Kadınlarda olgusal detaylandırmanın psikolojik dayanıklılıkla, olumsuz anılarda ise kendilik bağlantılarının sosyal karşılaştırma düzeyiyle ilişkili olduğu saptanmıştır. Kadınlar daha çok olumsuz, erkekler ise daha çok olumlu anı anlatmayı tercih etmiş, motivasyonel temalar erkeklerin anlatılarında öne çıkmıştır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Anlam oluşturma
• anlatısal kimlik
• kendilik
• psikolojik iyi oluş
• cinsiyet

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