Multi-Perspective Approach to Narratives in Health Communication

Julie E. Volkman is Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Language Studies and Faculty Fellow at the Center for Health and Behavioral Sciences at Bryant University. She is also Adjunct Associate Professor in the Division of Health Informatics and Implementation Science at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.

Engaging and passionate, A Multi-Perspective Approach to Narratives in Health brings together leading voices to illuminate how stories shape health across contexts—clinical, personal, cultural, and digital. This rich, interdisciplinary collection offers invaluable insights for scholars, practitioners, and anyone seeking deeper understanding of narrative’s vital role in fostering empathy and well-being.

• Chapter 1: Identity Formation: Intraindividual and Interindividual Processes across the LifespanDiliara Bagautdinova and Amanda KastrinosChapter 2: Confronting our Ultimate Fear Through Narrative: Death Portrayals in Entertainment and Acceptance of DeathAnneke deGraaf and Enny DasChapter 3: There’s No Place Like Home: Narrative Resources for Soul Hunger HealingJill Yamasaki and Laura LaineChapter 4: Narratives in Doctor-Patient CommunicationChiarra FiorettiChapter 5: The Temporal and Imaginative Nature of Narrative Sensemaking: The Worlding of Possibilities among Mis/fitsLynn M. Harter, Jill Yamasaki, and Patty MitchellChapter 6: “The Beautiful Awful”: How Communicated Narrative Sense-Making about Difficulty and Illness Relates to Health and Well-BeingJody Koenig Kellas and Cassidy Taladay-CarterChapter 7: The Development and use of Digital Story Banks to Foster Place-Based Narrative LaborLynn M. Harter, Hylie Voss, Megan Westervelt, Colin Cameron, Chuck Kaminski, Jorge Castillo-Castro, Anthony Acheampong, and Francis AmetepeyChapter 8: Storytelling Narrative Communication and Community-Based Intervention ResearchRosanna DeMarco, Mary E. Cooley and Sun S. KimChapter 9: Exemplification TheoryElisabeth Bigsby and Minhey ChungChapter 10: Entertainment-Education Theory: A Story in Five ActsCallie Kalny, Nathan Walter and Robin NabiChapter 11: Implementing Family-Centered Care Through Narrative: Meeting Families Where They Are to Promote Healthier OutcomesCarla Fisher and Gemme Campbell-SalomeConclusionAbout the Editor and Contributors