Centering U.S. Rural, Immigrant Latinx Adolescent Voices Through Narrative Mapping: Exploring a Novel Approach to Communicated Narrative Sense-Making.

Abstract

In the current study, we explore how rural immigrant Latinx adolescents make sense of and cope with their experiences through narrative mapping. Narrative mapping is an arts-based research method consisting of intrapersonal sensemaking through drawing and interpersonal sensemaking through discussion with others. We theoretically ground our study in narrative resilience via communicated narrative sense-making (CNSM) theory's translational storytelling heuristic. We asked 20 immigrant Latinx adolescents, ages 15-18, from a small rural Nebraskan community, in which 70% identify as Hispanic/Latinx, to draw and discuss a story about their health, education, and/or stress. We found that students drew and explained their drawings and experiences to their peers through two narrative sense-making devices: linear journeys and affective snapshots, which included comforting nature scenes and chaotic reflections. We also found that they communicated narrative resilience through their narrative maps by telling stories of overcoming challenges, aspiring toward future goals, reconnecting with others, centering in relaxation and calm, and processing uncertainty. Students reported benefits, such as coherence and perspective, understanding and empathy, relaxation, and autonomy. They also reported the challenges of getting started and struggling with vulnerable disclosure. We discuss implications and future directions, including those suggested by adolescents. Our study answers scholarly calls for more research (a) using translational storytelling, (b) centering cultural identities and experiences in storytelling and resilience, (c) using arts-based research approaches, and (d) focusing on the psychosocial strengths, instead of deficits, of Latinx adolescents.