Description
An abstract of the dissertation of Marguerite Corvini for the degree of Doctor of
Education in Leadership, Learning, and Community
Presented on October 27, 2022
Title: Sharing Recovery Stories: An Exploration of Intergroup Contact in Public
Settings
Abstract Approved:
Name: Suzanne Gaulocher
Dissertation Committee Chair
The purpose of this study was to understand the experience individuals in
recovery from substance use have when sharing their story in a public setting (i.e.,
intergroup contact) and how this affects their personal journey and ongoing recovery. A
theoretical framework was developed based on Kelly’s experience cycle and a multilevel
approach to stigma and public health by Cook et al. (2012). Participants were recruited
through a snowball sampling method beginning with recovery center organizations in
New Hampshire. Through this recruitment approach, 26 individuals participated. Data
collection occurred using a narrative inquiry approach with semi-structured interviews
and were analyzed through an ongoing and iterative process. All data were aggregated
and analyzed using the software program Dedoose. Results from this study show a gap in
the literature, specifically the negative consequences individuals may experience when
sharing their lived experience in a public setting. Negative consequences mainly centered
around the structural, interpersonal, and intrapersonal levels of stigma experience by
individuals. Each of these levels can impact an individual’s ability to tell their authentic
story in a public setting without risking their health, either physically or psychologically,
and evoking a trauma response. Alternatively, findings do confirm the positive
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consequences of sharing lived experiences found in previous research, such as fighting
stigma, self-acceptance, and external validation. Overall results indicate that storytelling
in a public setting is a complex experience for individuals in recovery that can result in
both positive and negative consequences. Findings from this study have the potential to
inform promising practices for both storytellers and organizations as they prepare to share
recovery stories with public audiences.
