Much of the research on narrative identity has used the Life Story Interview (LSI) to better understand the person through the story they construct of their life. However, the effect that the LSI has on participants has not yet been examined. Study 1 looked at 163 middle-aged adults who completed a measure of self-reported positive and negative affect both immediately before and after being interviewed. Results indicated that participants experienced a significant increase in positive affect and that this mood boost was experienced regardless of background, personality, and mental health. Study 2 involved a qualitative analysis of the interview transcripts of the 20 participants who experienced the most and the least benefit from the interview, with results indicating three emerging themes (identity development, identity fulfillment, the storied self) that appear to reflect two forms of storytelling: autobiographical versus episodic.

中文翻译：

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叙事的力量

许多关于叙事身份的研究都使用生活故事访谈（LSI）来通过人们构建的生活故事更好地了解他们。然而，LSI 对参与者的影响尚未得到检验。研究 1 调查了 163 名中年人，他们在接受采访之前和之后完成了自我报告的积极和消极影响的测量。结果表明，参与者的积极情绪显着增加，并且无论背景、性格和心理健康状况如何，都会经历这种情绪提升。研究 2 对从访谈中获益最多和最少的 20 名参与者的访谈笔录进行了定性分析，结果表明三个新兴主题（身份发展、身份实现、故事自我）似乎反映了两种形式的讲故事：自传式与情节式。