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Updated: May 30, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Coping with the ultimate deprivation: narrative themes in a parental bereavement support group
Laura R Umphrey1, Joanne Cacciatore
1School of Communication, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5619, USA. laura.umphrey@nau.edu
Abstract:
Support groups are often used to help individuals cope with challenging and unusual life circumstances through narration. Yet, little is known about specific meta-communication within a support group setting and in what ways these interactions may benefit participants. This study uncovers narrative themes that were expressed during a series of support group meetings specific to bereaved parents. Three central narratives were revealed in the analysis including the death story narrative, coping/negotiating narrative, and connecting through communication with others narrative. This research underscores the vital outlet that the support group serves for participants and the communicative means by which subjective healing can occur.
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