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Updated: May 8, 2026

Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Parent adaptation and family functioning in relation to narratives of children with chronic illness
Jill M Popp1, JoAnn L Robinson2, Preston A Britner2
1Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford CT; Department of Pediatrics, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT.
Background:
This study assessed the experience of parents who have a child diagnosed with chronic illness and whether children's narratives mirror these experiences.
Method:
A total of 66 parents completed assessments about adaptation and family functioning. Children with type 1 diabetes or asthma participated in a story-stem narrative task.
Results:
Forty-one percent of parents were unresolved about their child's diagnosis, regardless of time since diagnosis. Unresolved parents reported lower family functioning, and children in these families had more family conflict themes.
Conclusions:
Parental/Child narratives may provide unique insights into family adjustment. Future work may consider interventions related to family communication and expression of emotion.
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