With a Little Help From my Friends? Perceived Friendship Quality and Narrative Identity in Adolescence

Abstract

Stressful events are associated with various outcomes, but there is variability in these associations suggesting that the interpretation of these events is important. This interpretation is reflected in the narratives adolescents tell of events, which are largely constructed in social interactions. We examined the associations of perceived friendship quality with self-event connections and redemption in turning point narratives, in a sample of Dutch adolescents. Findings from regression analyses in a cross-sectional subsample (N = 1,087, Mage = 14.8) and a three-wave cross-lagged panel model in a longitudinal subsample (N = 186, Mage at Wave 1 = 14.7) showed that perceived friendship quality was associated with the presence of redemption sequences and self-event connections within time points, but not longitudinally.

Stability and change in autobiographical reasoning: A 4‐year longitudinal study of narrative identity development

“…In terms of rank‐order stability, both studies demonstrated low to moderate rank‐order stability ( r 's ranging from .3 to .4) in narrative constructs that have some conceptual overlap with autobiographical reasoning (i.e., personal growth, redemption). However, in a recent study with adolescents, researchers found quite low rank‐order stability for self‐event connections or redemption across three waves of data 1 year apart, although the researchers acknowledge that their analyses were underpowered (de Moor et al, 2021). In terms of mean‐level change, patterns at two time points from the beginning to end of college suggest an increase in autobiographical reasoning (McAdams et al., 2006).…”