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Part of
Narrative Absorption
Edited by Frank Hakemulder, Moniek M. Kuijpers, Ed S. Tan, Katalin Bálint and Miruna M. Doicaru
[Linguistic Approaches to Literature 27] 2017
► pp. 271–292

Chapter 13
The role of absorption processes in narrative health communication

| Radboud University Nijmegen
| Trimbos Institute for Mental Health and Addiction

This chapter reviews the research area of absorption in narrative health impact. First, we elaborate on theoretical models that describe how absorption processes may lead to story-consistent outcomes, such as health beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Then, we discuss empirical studies that test the role of absorption in narrative health impact. In this research area, theory and research converge that absorption into narratives is associated with health-related outcomes. Absorption processes like transportation and identification can be related to narrative health impact through a reduction of counter arguing, but other types of thoughts likely compensate for this reduction. In addition, self-referencing has been identified as a process that can play a role in narrative health impact. This review underscores the unique potential for absorption into narrative worlds to have an impact on healthy behavior.

Keywords: narrative health communication, transportation, identification, counter arguing, elaboration, self-referencing, vicarious experience
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Absorption and models of narrative health communication
  • 3.The relation of transportation and identification to narrative impact
  • 4.Reduced resistance as a consequence of absorption
  • 5.The relation between absorption and self-referencing
  • 6.Moving forward: Implications and future research
  • References
Published online: 9 November 2017
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/lal.27.14deg
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