Advisory Committee Chair
Timothy Levine
Advisory Committee Members
Kelly Morrison
Steven Mccornack
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
1-1-2025
Degree Name by School
Master of Arts (MA) College of Arts and Sciences
Abstract
This study investigates themes and lessons present in diverse intergenerational family stories of immigration. Effects of participant perceptions of lesson valence on resilience and relational closeness were observed in an emerging adult sample (N = 42), using the lens of Communicated Narrative Sensemaking Theory (CNSM). Additionally, participant perception of lesson utility was observed in relation to emerging adults’ prior thought and intent to share their family stories. Lastly, with whom emerging adults share their family stories was considered. A mixed methods approach was employed, utilizing an online survey with scales and open-ended text boxes. Findings revealed thirty-three distinct themes and fifteen separate lessons. Further, there was a positive correlation between lesson valence and relational closeness, but not between lesson valence and resilience. Lesson utility was found to be positively correlated with intent to share. Lastly, the two most common groups emerging adults shared their family stories with were friends and lovers. Based on these results, this study concludes that sensemaking is present and observable in narrative, in accordance with CNSM. Thus, this study calls for the continued observation of emerging adults’ intent to share stories, a move to measuring participant perceptions of valence instead of researcher assigned tone, and the continued sharing of such stories in the general population.
Recommended Citation
Brunn, Miranda Victoria, "Family Narratives Of Immigration And Identity" (2025). All ETDs from UAB. 6823.
https://digitalcommons.library.uab.edu/etd-collection/6823
Comments
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