Kristina M. Scharp

Family “Bonds”: Making Meaning of Parent–Child Relationships in Estrangement Narratives

ABSTRACT Framed by relational dialectics theory, the present study takes a critical approach to the discursive navigation of the parent–child relationship. Specifically, this study explores the ways in which the parent–child relationship is constructed in 52 narrative interviews with adult children who are estranged from their parent(s). Contrapuntal analysis revealed that two discourses compete to illuminate meanings of the parent–child relationship. Three interrelated themes that emphasize biological connection, familial webs, and shared history constitute the Discourse of Relationship Endurance (DRE). Four interrelated themes that emphasize the need for relational maintenance, care/support, love, and individualism constitute the Discourse of Temporal Contingency and resist the DRE. The competition of these discourses, in the form of diachronic separation, synchronic interplay, and a discursive hybrid coalesce to making meaning of the parent–child relationship and hold implications for both theory and practice.

Narrating Adoption: Resisting Adoption as “Second Best” in Online Stories of Domestic Adoption Told by Adoptive Parents

Framed in narrative theory and relational dialectics theory, one hundred online stories of domestic adoption told by adoptive parents were qualitatively analyzed, revealing four primary discourses of adoption that challenge the idea that adoption is a second-best way to parent. Narrative beginnings were dominated by a discourse of adoption as a valuable alternative to pregnancy. Narrative middles-and-ends featured two discourses of how the adoption process unfolds: adoption as a worthwhile struggle guided by destiny and adoption as a smooth and predictable process. Intertwined with these process-oriented constructions of adoption was a discourse of adoption as communal kinning, which emphasized a hybrid family form comprised of both biological and nonbiological ties.

Narrative Coherence in Online Stories Told by Members of the Adoption Triad

Two hundred ninety-eight online narratives told by adoptive parents, adoptees, and birth mothers were rated for their narrative coherence, which consisted of five dimensions: sequential organization, orientation, causal explanation, congruence of affect with content, and sense-making. Overall, mean ratings across all adoption triad members suggested more incoherence than coherence, but relative differences were found among triad members. Adoptive parents scored the highest on sequential organization, orientation, and causal explanation. Birth mothers scored the highest on congruence of affect with content. Narrative coherence has been systematically correlated in the literature with psychological adjustment, and the implications of the study are discussed for their insights into how well adoption triad members have adjusted to the challenges associated with adoption.

“It Was the Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back”: Exploring the Distancing Processes Communicatively Constructed in Parent-Child Estrangement Backstories

Despite its severity and prevalence, hardly any research addresses parent-child estrangement. Thus, in the present study we focus on the backstories of 52 adult children in the United States who engaged in communicative practices to distance themselves from their parent(s). Six themes coalesced into two backstory types: (1) continuous estrangement and (2) chaotic (dis)association. Regardless of backstory type, narrative beginnings consisted of accounts detailing parental maltreatment, abuse, and indifference. Continuous estrangement occurred when adult children were able to communicatively accomplish and maintain distance with their parent(s) in spite of the network/cultural pressures to reconcile. In other instances, adult children succumbed to pressures to reconcile and engaged in communicative behaviors to decrease the distance with their parents. These participants then entered into an on-again/off-again relationship, which ultimately ended with them attempting to create distance with their parent(s) over and over until they finally were able to maintain it (i.e., chaotic [dis]association).

“Wow, That Was Funny”: The Value of Exposure and Humor in Fostering Campaign Message Sharing

In this study, we examined whether or not exposure to a humorous surround campaign in Iowa (United States) could produce a multiplicative effect based on Intermedia Theory. Until You’re Ready, AvoidtheStork.com© was designed to prevent unintended pregnancies among young women. In the case of unintended pregnancy, interpersonal sharing is important because women’s contraceptive decisions are influenced by what others, including their friends, think about the health issue. In a sample of college students (n = 594), cross-sectional survey results indicated that campaign exposure and humor were significant predictors of talking with and/or showing the campaign to others. Based on our results, we suggest that campaign practitioners should consider humor-based campaigns as a way to generate not only exposure-based effects but also conversation-based effects. Specifically, humor-based campaigns can increase the reach of a campaign through sharing.

Stories of Postpartum Depression: Exploring Health Constructs and Help-Seeking in Mothers’ Talk

This article explores behavioral constructs derived from the Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction (Fishbein, 2009) that emerged from unsolicited, online stories from 30 mothers about their experiences with postpartum depression. Five constructs (i.e., social norms; severity; barriers to help-seeking; facilitators to, and cues to action for, help-seeking; and self-efficacy) were prevalent and were connected with help-seeking behaviors in the stories that were analyzed after a single data collection in March 2011. Recommendations are offered for how the findings can be integrated into postpartum depression-related health promotion interventions.

Family marginalization, alienation, and estrangement: questioning the nonvoluntary status of family relationships

ABSTRACT Despite assumptions that families are close and intact, the prevalence of family member marginalization, parent–child alienation, and parent–child estrangement is overwhelming. Largely ignored by the research community, these three family distancing processes pose significant disruptions to the entire family system. Although some of associated behaviors lead to turmoil and decreased well-being, distancing can also be a healthy solution to an unhealthy environment. This manuscript traces the history of these three processes; offering conceptualizations, strengths, and critiques of each perspective. Specifically, we discuss the way communication researchers have influenced these processes as well as how they can contribute to this sparse body of research in the future. Finally, we compare the processes and question whether families should be considered nonvoluntary.

The Content of Relational Uncertainty in Non-Engaged Cohabiting Relationships

Cohabitation, or living together without marrying, is a common and potentially problematic part of contemporary dating relationships. Cohabiting partners rarely share the same vision for the future of their relationship, often resulting in an unclear state of commitment. This study used a relational uncertainty lens to examine the nuances of uncertainties in cohabiting partnerships. We conducted a content analysis of open-ended responses from over 103 couples (N = 206). Results suggest that cohabiting partners cope with relational uncertainties that are specific to both marital and dating relationships, as well as several relational uncertainties that are unique to cohabitation. Findings also showed that the majority of partners do not identify similar topics of relational uncertainty. In light of these results, it is recommended that cohabiting couples make a concerted effort to discuss their uncertainties with their partner early and objectively, as well as to consider how their strains in social networks might add to individual and relational stress.

“I Want to Go Home”: Homesickness Experiences and Social-Support-Seeking Practices

Almost everyone experiences homesickness at some point in their life, regardless of their age. Given the deleterious outcomes associated with homesickness, this study explores what homesick individuals miss about their homes, what their homes mean to them, and how individuals seek support when they are homesick. Thirty-four in-depth interviews were collected, and results from a content analysis indicate that there are 12 distinct content areas that individuals miss about their homes. Results suggest that activities (100%), family (97%), feelings (100%), and places (97%) are the most salient for homesick individuals. Furthermore, a thematic analysis reveals that “home” is generally synonymous with a comfortable and safe environment. Although the majority of participants reported that they did not seek social support when they were homesick, those who sought support did so both directly and indirectly. Practical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Uncertainty issues and management in adult children’s stories of their estrangement with their parents:

Framed in the uncertainty literature, the present study explores the uncertainty issues and management practices of adult children who are in the estrangement process with their parents. Results from 52 narrative interviews reveal six types of uncertainty and six management processes. Taken together, results suggest that the estrangement process is marked by chronic uncertainty that can serve multiple functions. Theoretical implications and practical applications are discussed.