A critical review of narrative coherence theory for use with Congolese refugee women who are resettling in the United States

Abstract

Due to the extensive violence occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past three decades (Cultural Orientation Resource Center, 2014), between 2008 and 2013 approximately 11,000 Congolese refugees have been resettled in the United States across 45 states. An approximate additional 41,000 Congolese refugees were resettled in the United States between 2013 and 2018 (Mossaad, 2019; Zong and Batalova, 2015). In the past two years, the U.S. accepted more than 20,000 Congolese refugees, making it the largest refugee group to be resettled in the United States during this two-year period (Greenberg, Gelatt, & Holovnia, 2019; National Immigration Forum, 2020). This makes further knowledge and understanding of this population essential for many medical and mental health professionals. The goal of this qualitative study is to conduct a critical analysis of the theory of narrative coherence and its applicability to Congolese women (Baerger & McAdams, 1999). Narrative coherence theory posits the ability to share one’s story in a way that makes sense to the listener indicates the person has integrated and come to terms with their life experiences. Additionally, psychological well-being has been negatively correlated with low coherence (Baerger & McAdams, 1999). Researchers reported that few strong tools are available to assess refugee women’s well-being (Gagnon, Tuck, & Barkun, 2004). Determining if a narrative coherence measure can be used to assess the well-being of Congolese women refugees could provide strides in this area and further understanding of the unique resettlement process for these women. The results of this study will contribute to the limited literature available on Congolese refugees in the United States and help inform and impact current available resources and treatment. Key terms: narrative coherence, Congolese refugee women, life story, social support, well-being