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Drawing from a quota sample of adult Americans (N = 540), this survey explored how individuals who worked from home (WFH) during the COVID-19 pandemic used information communication technologies (I...

During times of stress, supportive communication can buffer individuals from experiencing negative outcomes. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially altered the interactions people rely on for support, which may influence the supportive messages they desire and receive. When people receive quantities of support that differ from what they desire, they experience support gaps, which are often associated with negative outcomes. The present study examines: (a) support gaps in close relationships under shelter-in-place orders issued in response to the pandemic; (b) how support gaps may be moderated by recipient and provider sex; and (c) relationships between support gaps and loneliness, stress, and relational satisfaction. Data were collected in Spring 2020 from community members across the United States and students at a large Midwestern university ( N = 273). Participants reported on five types of support desired and received from their closest relational partner. Unexpectedly, participants generally reported receiving more support than desired, though this finding was qualified by their biological sex and the biological sex of their partner. As expected, support deficits were primarily associated with negative outcomes. Surplus esteem support was positively associated with relational satisfaction and negatively associated with perceived stress. Results are discussed in terms of theoretical implications for support gaps research and theory as well as pragmatic implications for individuals experiencing a global, shared stressor.

The cognitive–emotional theory of esteem support messages predicts that message style will affect the outcomes of esteem support interactions. However, little research has focused on the effects of message style; that is, how esteem support messages are delivered. The present experiment addresses this lacuna by manipulating message style in a laboratory study examining face-to-face esteem support interactions. Confederates were trained to provide emotion-focused esteem support to naïve participants (N = 173) in four styles along the assertive–inductive dimension, in addition to a listening-only control condition. We then assessed the effect of the interaction on participants’ state self-esteem. Results indicated that emotion-focused esteem support improved state self-esteem more than listening support; however, there was no significant effect of message style. Post-interaction state self-esteem improvement was positively associated with the quantity of emotion-focused esteem support content provided during the interaction.

This experiment examines state shame and guilt responses to esteem support messages, testing predictions derived from the cognitive-emotional theory of esteem support messages (CETESM). Participants (N = 852) chose one of eight hypothetical scenarios designed to induce shame and/or guilt. Next, participants were directed to a randomization of emotion-focused (EF) and problem-focused (PF) esteem support messages and were asked to rate how the message would affect their feelings of state shame and state guilt. EF messages were expected to alleviate feelings of shame more so than guilt, but results indicated that they did not consistently do so. However, as expected, PF messages were rated as more likely to alleviate feelings of guilt (in five of eight scenarios) than shame. When comparing the messages to each other, EF messages were rated as better at alleviating both shame and guilt compared to PF messages. Theoretical and pragmatic implications are discussed.

Humans are inherently social, driven to communicate and build relationships with one another. The question of how messages between people create shared understanding lies at the core of interperson...

The associations among the frequency and quality of social interactions and in-the-moment and global well-being have been well-documented. Fewer studies explore whether the content of social interactions is associated with well-being using experimental methods. Drawing from the communicate bond belong theory, seven candidate communication episodes and behaviors were identified. In three studies, participants ( NStudy 1 = 347, NStudy 2 = 310, NStudy 3 = 250) were randomly assigned to engage in one of these communication episodes or behaviors and then completed end-of-day measures of well-being. Compared to participants in the control groups, participants engaging in candidate behaviors experienced increased well-being. MANCOVA results from all studies suggest the frequency of engaging in candidate behaviors was associated with increased well-being. A mini-meta-analysis found a weighted average effect size of d = 0.255. Results suggest that engaging in as little as one communication behavior with one friend in a day can improve daily well-being.

Research suggests that sex and gender differences in self-esteem, emotional reactions to esteem threats, and ways of coping with esteem threats may impact the likelihood of using esteem sup...

Background Past research has demonstrated that adolescents with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) typically have a decline in health outcomes as they begin to assume more self-management activities. Mobile app interventions have been suggested as one possible way to improve this behavior. Purpose The primary aim of this study was to address declines in health outcomes by pilot testing the satisfaction, use and feasibility of an app-based family communication intervention aimed to assist in adolescent self-management of T1D. Methods Thirty-three adolescent–parent pairs were enrolled in and completed the 12-week pilot study. Participants were randomized 2:1 to intervention (app use) or control group. Pre/post quantitative and qualitative data were collected, including HbA1c and surveys. Paired-sample t-tests and ANOVA statistics were conducted. Results The parents and adolescents reported high satisfaction with the app, and that it was easy to use. Results showed HbA1c stability in the intervention group and significant worsening in the control group. There were also significant improvements in adherence to diabetes management and quality of life for the parents in the intervention group. The adolescents did not show any improvement in quality-of-life measures. Conclusion This study suggests that the app intervention is acceptable, shows promise for improving health outcomes for adolescents with T1D, and may improve family communication. The public health implications of this work are that app interventions have a potential role in positively influencing chronic disease outcomes. Additional research with a more extensive and diverse sample is needed to determine generalizability.

PURPOSE The purpose was to determine the relationship between social support, psychological symptoms and self-management behaviors among adults with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and examine the influence of types of social support and patient age. DESIGN This was a systematic review. PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, Communication and Mass Media Complete, and Communication Abstracts were searched. Publication dates were limited to January 2000 to August 2018. METHODS The systematic review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement, and quality was appraised based on the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme for cohort studies tool. The data were synthesized using narrative synthesis techniques. FINDINGS The literature review yielded 458 results. Eight articles met inclusion criteria. Articles utilized a variety of conceptualizations of both social support and self-management behaviors, making comparisons difficult. Findings demonstrated an inverse relationship between social support and psychological symptoms, and in one study only when social support buffered high stress. Studies with significant relationships between age and self-management behaviors indicated that a lower age was associated with decreased self-management behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Social support has the potential to influence psychological symptoms among patients with IBD. Future research should examine types of social support (i.e., emotional, informational, and tangible support) and measure levels of received social support. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Social support may serve as a modifiable factor to improve psychological symptoms among adults with IBD. Younger adults (age

Supervising agents serve as sources of social support for over one million women in the US on probation and parole who strive to avoid recidivism. Little is known about the supportive messages agen...

Background Emerging adulthood is a unique developmental stage, which may affect individuals' self-management behaviors, social support, and the relationship between these two constructs. Among older adults, social support has been shown to improve self-management behaviors for individuals with chronic conditions; however, this relationship has not been examined with emerging adults (age 18-29 years) who have inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Objectives The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between two conceptualizations of social support (received and perceived availability of social support) and IBD-related self-management behaviors among emerging adults with IBD. Methods A convenience sample of emerging adult IBD individuals (currently prescribed medication to manage IBD) were recruited through ResearchMatch, Facebook, and word of mouth. The study was guided by key elements of the individual and family self-management theory. Participants responded to demographic and condition-specific questionnaires: the Inventory of Dimensions of Emerging Adulthood, the Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors, the Medical Outcomes: Social Support Survey, the Medication Adherence Report Scale, and the Dietary Screener Questionnaire. Results Emerging adults with high received informational support reported greater medication adherence compared to those with low received informational support when controlling for biological medications, time since diagnosis, symptom frequency, and feeling in-between adolescence and adulthood. Neither type of social support was associated with diet modification. Discussion Received informational social support, medication type, time since diagnosis, symptoms, and emerging adulthood factors have the potential to influence medication adherence. Received informational social support interventions, such as patient-to-patient or group-based mentoring, may serve to improve medication adherence among emerging adults with IBD.

Two experiments were conducted to extend research on the Cognitive-Emotional Theory of Esteem Support Messages by examining order, interaction, and absolute effects of emotion- and problem-focused esteem support in the context of the job search. Participants were presented with an esteem support message and rated its perceived effects on their job-search state self-esteem and self-efficacy. Study 1 participants ( N = 228) were college students seeking post-graduation employment. Study 2 participants ( N = 268) were adults in the community with experience seeking full-time employment. Results of both studies revealed that a message that addressed the esteem threat and contained problem- or emotion-focused content was rated as more effective than a message that failed to address the esteem threat and contained neither form of content. Mixed-focused messages were rated similarly to messages containing only high emotion-focused content, though some differences between the samples emerged. No order effects were observed in either study.

Using semistructured interviews with 388 women under supervision, this study integrates criminal justice and communication theories by investigating gender responsivity and type of support in messages women receive about employment from supervision agents. Informational support was the most frequent form of supportive communication clients received from their agents, and was the only type of supportive communication clients perceived negatively. Women recalled agents’ messages that varied in their sensitivity to the range of women offenders’ needs (child and family care demands, human capital attainment, mental health issues, and substance abuse recovery). Supportive messages that took into account a variety of problems commonly shared by women on probation and parole had positive effects, whereas supportive messages that were relevant to employment, but failed to consider other needs, had negative effects. Results of this work have implications regarding effective support offered by community supervision agents as they discuss employment.

This manuscript examines the patterns of information communication technology (ICT) use with friends and family outside of the home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the associations among ICT use and psychological (i.e., loneliness; stress) and social (i.e., social needs; relationship maintenance) wellbeing. In early May 2020, a representative panel of American adults was surveyed (N = 1,947). Results suggest that despite 90% of the sample complying with shelter-in-place (SIP) orders, face-to-face contact with friends and family outside of the home was the primary predictor of getting one’s social needs met and mitigating loneliness. In contrast with predictions drawn from media richness theory, voice calls were associated with less stress, loneliness, and relationship maintenance difficulties, while video chat was positively associated with all three. Moderation analyses suggested that other factors (i.e., SIP, age) influenced the strength of association between modalities (i.e., face-to-face, email, social media) and outcomes. The theoretical implications for MRT and the practical implications for mediated sociality during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.

Background Type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects more than 165,000 individuals younger than 20 years in the United States of America. The transition from parent management to parent-child team management, with the child taking on increased levels of self-care, can be stressful and is associated with a deterioration in self-management behaviors. Therefore, a mobile app intervention, MyT1DHero, was designed to facilitate diabetes-specific positive parent-adolescent communication and improve diabetes-related outcomes. The MyT1DHero intervention links an adolescent with T1D and their parent through 2 separate app interfaces and is designed to promote positive communication regarding T1D management. Objective The aim of this pilot study was to determine (1) the initial efficacy of the MyT1DHero intervention in improving diabetes outcomes in adolescents, specifically the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, diabetes care adherence, and quality of life, and (2) the adolescents’ overall satisfaction with this intervention. Methods This pilot study included 30 adolescent-parent pairs who used the MyT1DHero app in a 12-week single-arm clinical trial. Participants were recruited from the local pediatric endocrinology subspecialty clinic via snowball sampling. HbA1c levels, diabetes care adherence, quality of life, family conflict, and satisfaction levels were measured and analyzed using paired sample two-sided t tests and linear regression analyses. Results The final analysis included 25 families. The mean age of the adolescents was 12.28 (SD 1.62) years. Half of the participants (13/25) reported a diabetes diagnosis of less than 5 years. After 12 weeks of the intervention, diabetes care adherence significantly improved (before the study: mean 3.87 [SD 0.59]; after the study: mean 4.19 [SD 0.65]; t21=–2.52, P=.02, d=0.52) as did quality of life (before the study: mean 4.02 [SD 0.84]; after the study: mean 4.27 [SD 0.73]; t24=2.48, P=.01, d=0.32). HbA1c levels (before the study: mean 8.94 [SD 1.46]; after the study: mean 8.87 [SD 1.29]; t24=0.67, P=.51, d=0.04) and family conflict (before the study: mean 2.45 [SD 0.55]; after the study: mean 2.61 [SD 0.45]; t23=0.55, P=.14, d=0.32) changed in the hypothesized direction, but the change was not significant. However, higher use of the mobile app was associated with more improvement in HbA1c levels (F1,20=9.74, P Conclusions In a 12-week pilot study of the mobile app intervention designed to facilitate parent-adolescent communication for improving diabetes outcomes, significant benefits were demonstrated in self-care adherence and quality of life. A randomized controlled trial with a longer intervention is needed to replicate these findings and to determine the stability of the intervention effects. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03436628; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03436628

BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes (T1D) affects more than 165,000 individuals younger than 20 years in the United States of America. The transition from parent management to parent-child team management, with the child taking on increased levels of self-care, can be stressful and is associated with a deterioration in self-management behaviors. Therefore, a mobile app intervention, MyT1DHero, was designed to facilitate diabetes-specific positive parent-adolescent communication and improve diabetes-related outcomes. The MyT1DHero intervention links an adolescent with T1D and their parent through 2 separate app interfaces and is designed to promote positive communication regarding T1D management. OBJECTIVE The aim of this pilot study was to determine (1) the initial efficacy of the MyT1DHero intervention in improving diabetes outcomes in adolescents, specifically the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, diabetes care adherence, and quality of life, and (2) the adolescents’ overall satisfaction with this intervention. METHODS This pilot study included 30 adolescent-parent pairs who used the MyT1DHero app in a 12-week single-arm clinical trial. Participants were recruited from the local pediatric endocrinology subspecialty clinic via snowball sampling. HbA1c levels, diabetes care adherence, quality of life, family conflict, and satisfaction levels were measured and analyzed using paired sample two-sided t tests and linear regression analyses. RESULTS The final analysis included 25 families. The mean age of the adolescents was 12.28 (SD 1.62) years. Half of the participants (13/25) reported a diabetes diagnosis of less than 5 years. After 12 weeks of the intervention, diabetes care adherence significantly improved (before the study: mean 3.87 [SD 0.59]; after the study: mean 4.19 [SD 0.65]; t21=–2.52, P=.02, d=0.52) as did quality of life (before the study: mean 4.02 [SD 0.84]; after the study: mean 4.27 [SD 0.73]; t24=2.48, P=.01, d=0.32). HbA1c levels (before the study: mean 8.94 [SD 1.46]; after the study: mean 8.87 [SD 1.29]; t24=0.67, P=.51, d=0.04) and family conflict (before the study: mean 2.45 [SD 0.55]; after the study: mean 2.61 [SD 0.45]; t23=0.55, P=.14, d=0.32) changed in the hypothesized direction, but the change was not significant. However, higher use of the mobile app was associated with more improvement in HbA1c levels (F1,20=9.74, P2=0.33). Overall, the adolescents were satisfied with the app intervention. CONCLUSIONS In a 12-week pilot study of the mobile app intervention designed to facilitate parent-adolescent communication for improving diabetes outcomes, significant benefits were demonstrated in self-care adherence and quality of life. A randomized controlled trial with a longer intervention is needed to replicate these findings and to determine the stability of the intervention effects. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03436628; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03436628

Substance use is a key reason for initial offending and recidivism for the over one million women on probation and parole in the United States. Social support protects against both recidivism and relapse to substance use. However, many women supervised in the community with a history of substance abuse lack social support from family and friends. Probation and parole officers (POs) may serve as sources of social support for such women. In the current study, types of supportive communication and their effects were coded from semistructured interview responses from 284 female offenders who recalled supportive messages from their POs regarding substance use avoidance. Results indicate that informational support is most likely to be provided by POs, whereas tangible and network support were reported infrequently. Most supportive communication was perceived positively. Implications of this study include identification of helpful message strategies for POs and gaps in female offenders’ social support resources.

The article presents a narrative review of scholarship on social support through social networking sites (SNSs) published from 2004 to 2015. By searching keywords related to social support and SNSs in major databases for social sciences, we identified and content analyzed directly relevant articles (N = 88). The article summarizes the prevalence of theory usage; the function of theory usage (e.g., testing a theory, developing a theory); major theories referenced; and methodologies, including research designs, measurement, and the roles of social support and SNS examined in this literature. It also reports four themes identified across the studies, indicating the trends in the current research. Based on the review, the article presents a discussion about study sites, conceptualization of social support, theoretical coherence, the role of social networks, and the dynamic relationships between SNS use and social support, which points out potential avenues for shaping a future research agenda.

Capitalization attempts, or the sharing of personal good news, can have positive outcomes for disclosers when met with a skillful response. This study reports on a test of an attribution-based theoretical framework for capitalization response messages. Participants (N = 314) read capitalization response messages created by crossing the causal attribution dimensions of locus, stability, and globality. They rated messages for their anticipated effect on positive and negative affect. Results indicate that messages that make internal attributions for success are rated significantly higher on positive affect and lower on negative affect than messages making external attributions, as are messages making stable versus unstable attributions. The stability dimension moderates the impact of the globality dimension on message ratings. Implications for attribution and social support theories are discussed.

Objective The transition from parent management to teen self-management of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a stressful, but important, time with substantial long-term health consequences. The purpose of this study was to describe and explore teens’ and their parents’ perspectives on the transition through the transactional model of stress and coping (TMSC). This evidence will provide us an understanding of key variables of the TMSC to target in an intervention. Methods This qualitative study included 12 teens and 9 parents in Michigan. Subjects participated in semi-structured interviews designed to examine the transition process, using TMSC as a guide. Results Several themes emerged through the analysis of the interview data. The results of the themes are presented by primary and secondary appraisals. The primary appraisal theme was coded as fear. The secondary appraisal was focused on family communication. Finally, the coping strategies included provider communication, social support and tangible support. Conclusions Improving parent involvement and providing more social support and educational opportunities to both parents and teens can be possible avenues for new coping interventions.

BACKGROUND Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) afflicts approximately 154,000 people under the age of 20 in the United States. Most people with T1DM are diagnosed at a young age, and parents have to take on the responsibility of T1DM management. Eventually, the child must begin to transition to self-management. Adolescents often struggle to take on responsibility for all the necessary tasks to successfully self-manage their T1DM. In fact, approximately three-quarters of adolescents are not achieving American Diabetes Association–recommended glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) targets. This lack of adherence can lead to negative health outcomes. OBJECTIVE The goals of this interdisciplinary proposal are as follows: (1) to develop a unique and theory-driven technology using a mobile phone app to promote self-management behaviors for adolescents aged 10-15 years with T1DM and their parents and (2) to explore the feasibility and impact of the self-management mobile app. METHODS This study has two phases: app development and pilot testing. In the app development phase, the app will be conceptualized and a prototype will be tested. In Phase 2, the mobile app will undergo pilot testing to determine its feasibility and impact on diabetes self-management. RESULTS The pilot test was launched in September 2017. Data collection for the final pilot test is underway, and results are forthcoming. CONCLUSIONS Adolescents with T1DM and their parents can have a difficult time managing the transition of diabetes care. It is hoped that this app can help. The focus groups and prototype testing have indicated promising outcomes of app use. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03436628; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03436628 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/72tHXTE2Z) INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR RR1-10.2196/10803

Two studies are reported that test a model in which job-search self-efficacy mediates the relationship between received esteem support and job-search behavior. Esteem support refers to messages intended to enhance how recipients feel about themselves and their attributes, abilities, and/or accomplishments. New-entrant job seekers (N = 208, Study 1), as well as unemployed, underemployed, and/or displaced workers (N = 254, Study 2) completed a survey assessing their reception of esteem support messages, job-search self-efficacy, and job-search behavior. Both studies revealed that job-search self-efficacy mediated the relationship between esteem support and job-search behavior, but the effects were more pronounced among new-entrant job seekers.

The current study examines how the receipt of different types of supportive communication affects the job search. New entrant job seekers (N = 175) reported on their receipt of four types of social support (informational, instrumental, emotional, and companionship support) and their perceptions of job search self-efficacy and job search behavior. Emotional support and companionship support exerted the strongest unique effects on job search self-efficacy, and informational support and emotional support exerted the strongest unique effects on job search behavior. Implications of the findings are discussed.

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a home-based reflexology intervention delivered by a friend/family caregiver compared with attention control on health-related quality of life of women with advanced breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, targeted and/or hormonal therapy.Patient-caregiver dyads (N = 256) were randomized to four weekly reflexology sessions or attention control. Caregivers in the intervention group were trained in a 30-minute protocol. During the four weeks, both groups had telephone symptom assessments, and intervention group had fidelity assessments. The intervention effects were assessed using linear mixed-effects models at weeks 5 and 11 for symptom severity and interference with daily activities, functioning, social support, quality of patient-caregiver relationship, and satisfaction with life.Significant reductions in average symptom severity (P = 0.02) and interference (P 0.01) over 11 weeks were found in the reflexology group compared with control, with no group differences in functioning, social support, quality of relationship, or satisfaction with life at weeks 5 and 11. Stronger quality of relationship was associated with lower symptom interference in the entire sample (P = 0.02), but controlling for it did not diminish the effect of intervention on symptoms. Significant reductions in symptom severity in the reflexology group compared with attention control were seen during weeks 2-5 but were reduced at Week 11.Efficacy findings of caregiver-delivered reflexology with respect to symptom reduction open a new evidence-based avenue for home-based symptom management.

The current study extends research on the Cognitive-Emotional Theory of Esteem Support Messages (CETESM) and examines the role of esteem support during the job search. Unemployed, underemployed, and/or displaced job seekers (N=197) recalled an esteem support message they had received during their job search. Messages were coded using a scheme derived from the CETESM. Results indicate that helpful messages (i.e., those that enhanced state self-esteem related to the job search) were significantly more likely than unhelpful messages to contain message features predicted by the CETESM. Helpful messages were also associated with greater job search activity than were unhelpful messages. Theoretical implications, as well as pragmatic implications for those who wish to support job seekers, are discussed.

Without physical appearance, identification in computer-mediated communication is relatively ambiguous and may depend on verbal cues such as usernames, content, and/or style. This is important when gender-linked differences exist in the effects of messages, as in emotional support. This study examined gender attribution for online support providers with male, female, or ambiguous usernames, who provided highly person-centered (HPC) or low person-centered (LPC) messages. Participants attributed gender to helpers with gender-ambiguous names based on HPC versus LPC messages. Female participants preferred HPC helpers over LPC helpers. Unexpectedly, men preferred HPC messages from male and gender-ambiguous helpers more than they did when HPC messages came from females. Implications follow about computer-mediated emotional support and theories of computer-mediated communication and social influence.

To test a recently proposed dual-process theory of supportive communication outcomes, participants ( N = 328) assumed they had experienced a mildly or moderately problematic situation. They then evaluated supportive messages varying in person centeredness, purportedly provided by either an acquaintance or a friend. Participants’ perceived support availability (PSA) was also assessed. As predicted, the recipient factor (PSA) individually and in conjunction with the contextual factor (problem severity) moderated the effect of the message factor (message person centeredness) on helpfulness evaluations. Modest support was observed for the hypothesis that the source factor (friend vs. acquaintance) influences evaluations when messages are processed less extensively. Implications for the dual-process theory of supportive communication outcomes are discussed.

The relationship between attachment, situational factors (type of esteem threat, target responsibility, and problem severity), and ratings of the helpfulness of esteem support messages was examined in two studies (Study 1, N = 196; Study 2, N = 506). Esteem support is a particular form of emotional support intended to improve how the recipient feels about him or herself. In both studies, participants rated the helpfulness of esteem support messages for three types of esteem threat and completed measures of (a) attachment dimensions, (b) perceived situational severity, and (c) perceived target responsibility. Results indicate that attachment avoidance is related to ratings of message helpfulness and that situational features moderate the relationship between the attachment dimensions and esteem support message ratings.

The recently proposed cognitive-emotional theory of esteem support messages (CETESM) posits that sophisticated esteem support messages enhance state self-esteem by promoting cognitive reattribution and reappraisal of esteem-threatening situations and their effects on the self. To test this hypothesis, participants ( N = 234) read a hypothetical situation in which they imagined they had experienced one of two esteem-threatening situations. They then read a conversation in which a helper offered high- or low-quality esteem support messages. Finally, participants completed measures of cognitive reattribution and reappraisal and state self-esteem. Results mostly supported the predicted mediational model, though one message feature failed to predict message ratings, and issues arose in assessing cognitive reattribution.

Esteem support is a particular form of social support that is provided with the intent of enhancing how others feel about themselves and their attributes, abilities, and accomplishments. This study examines the association between perceptions of esteem support message helpfulness and (a) characteristics of the esteem support situation, (b) the relationship between provider and recipient, and (c) features of the perceived esteem support message. Participants (N = 55) recalled two esteem-threatening situations, one for which they received helpful esteem support and another for which they received unhelpful esteem support. Messages and features of situations and helpers were coded. Results indicate that features of the esteem support message and the helper are related to perceptions of messages helpfulness.

Perceived support availability (PSA), a general belief about the likelihood that social support will be available when needed, is associated with numerous processes and outcomes of supportive communication. Currently, however, there is little understanding of the factors that contribute to this belief. Numerous studies have reported gender differences in PSA, with women generally indicating that they see support as more available than do men; in turn, gender differences in PSA have been cited to explain gender differences in the production and interpretation of supportive messages. In an effort to explain gender differences in PSA and, more broadly, understand the social-cognitive factors that contribute to individual differences in PSA, this article proposes and reports a test of a theoretical model that treats PSA as the outcome of the availability and accessibility of cognitive schemata for construing social situations. Participants (150 men and 271 women) completed instruments providing assessments of...

We report tests of hypotheses derived from a theory of supportive communication outcomes that maintains the effects of supportive messages are moderated by factors influencing the motivation and ability to process these messages. Participants in two studies completed a measure of cognitive complexity, which provided an assessment of processing ability, and reported their degree of upset with a problem situation, which was hypothesized to impact both motivation and ability; they subsequently evaluated the helpfulness of comforting messages that varied in person centeredness. Consistent with predictions, an index of message processing depth—the degree to which participants discriminated between the helpfulness of better and worse supportive messages—was associated with the factors additively in both studies and interactively in one study. Los Efectos de la Complejidad Cognitiva y el Disgusto Emocional sobre el Procesamiento de Mensajes de Apoyo: Dos Pruebas de la Teoria de Proceso Doble de los Resultados de la Comunicacion de Apoyo Reportamos las pruebas de las hipotesis derivadas de una teoria de los resultados de la comunicacion de apoyo que sostiene que los efectos de los mensajes de apoyo son moderados por factores que influencian la motivacion y la habilidad de procesar estos mensajes. Los participantes en los dos estudios completaron una medida de la complejidad cognitiva, la cual proveyo de un asesoramiento de la habilidad de procesamiento, y reporto el grado de disgusto con una situacion problematica, la cual deberia impactar la motivacion y la habilidad; subsecuentemente ellos evaluaron cuan beneficioso eran los mensajes de apoyo que variaron en la centralidad de la persona. Consistente con las predicciones, un indice de la profundidad del procesamiento del mensaje–el grado en que los participantes discernieron entre el beneficio de los mensajes de apoyo mejores y peores–estuvo asociado con los factores aditivamente en ambos estudios e interactivamente en uno de los estudios. Palabras claves: complejidad cognitiva, modelos de proceso doble, apoyo emocional, recepcion de mensaje, apoyo social, escucha Die Wirkung von kognitiver Komplexitat und emotionaler Sensation auf die Verarbeitung von hilfreichen Botschaften: Zwei Tests einer Dualprozesstheorie zu Folgen unterstutzender Kommunikation Wir berichten uber den Test von Hypothesen, die aus der Theorie zu Folgen von unterstutzender Kommunikation extrahiert wurden und postulieren, dass die Wirkung von hilfreichen Botschaften durch Faktoren moderiert wird, die die Motivation und die Fahigkeit beeinflussen, diese Botschaften zu verarbeiten. Die Teilnehmer nahmen an zwei Studien teil. Sie vervollstandigten ein Messinstrument zur kognitiven Komplexitat, das zur Beurteilung der Verarbeitungsfahigkeit diente und gaben auserdem Auskunft daruber, wie sehr sich durch eine problematische Situation, die Motivation und Fahigkeit beeinflussen sollte, aus der Fassung gebracht wurden. Im Anschluss bewerteten sie den Nutzen beruhigender Botschaften, die bezuglich ihrer Fokussierung auf eine Person variierten. Im Einklang mit den Annahmen, war ein Index der Botschaftsverarbeitungstiefe (der Grad, zu welchem die Teilnehmer zwischen dem Nutzen von besseren und schlechteren hilfreichen Botschaften unterschieden) in beiden Studien additiv, in einer Studie interaktiv verknupft mit diesen Faktoren. Schlusselbegriffe: kognitive Komplexitat, Dualprozessmodelle, emotionale Unterstutzung, Botschaftsrezeption, soziale Unterstutzung, Zuhoren Les effets de la complexite cognitive et de la contrarieteemotive sur le traitement des messages de soutien : deux tests d’une theorie a deux temps des resultats de la communication de soutien Nous rendons compte de tests d’hypotheses derivees d’une theorie des resultats de la communication de soutien qui affirme que les effets des messages de soutien sont attenues par des facteurs influencant la motivation et la capacitea traiter ces messages. Les participants a deux etudes ont complete une mesure de la complexite cognitive (ce qui a fourni une evaluation de la capacite de traitement) et ont declare leur niveau de contrariete face a une situation problematique (ce qui devrait influencer la motivation et la capacite). Ils ont ensuite evalue l’utilite de messages de reconfort variant dans la centralite qu’ils donnaient a la personne. Conformement aux predictions, un indice de profondeur dans le traitement du message (le degre auquel les participants discriminaient entre l’utilite de meilleurs et de pires messages de soutien) etait associe aux facteurs de maniere additive dans les deux etudes et de maniere interactive dans une etude. Mots cles : complexite cognitive, modeles a deux temps, soutien emotionnel, reception des messages, soutien social, ecoute

Women process information about support situations and messages more extensively than men, but little is known about whether these gender differences reflect underlying differences in processing ability, motivation, or both. Two studies examined information processing by men and women in both relatively less serious and more serious situations. Participants in Study 1 responded to more and less serious experimental scenarios, whereas participants in Study 2 reported on a recent bereavement situation. In both studies, the pattern of observed gender differences was most consistent with women possessing both greater ability and greater motivation to process information about support situations and messages.

This article reports tests of hypotheses derived from a theory of supportive message outcomes that maintains that the effects of supportive messages are moderated by factors influencing the motivation and ability to process these messages. Participants ( N = 331) completed measures of attachment style, which provided individual-level assessments of processing motivation, and responded to either a mildly or moderately severe problem, which manipulated situational motivation.They subsequently evaluated the helpfulness of comforting messages that varied in person centeredness and were attributed to either an acquaintance or a close friend. Although message evaluations were strongly influenced by person centeredness, this effect, as expected, was also moderated by attachment style and problem severity. Results are discussed in terms of the dual-process theory of supportive message outcomes.

This study extends research on sex differences and similarities in communication values by examining (a) the influence of sex of friend on ratings of functional communication skills in same-sex and cross-sex friendships, (b) the moderating role of friend's sex in sex differences in evaluations, and (c) the mediating role of psychological gender in sex differences in communication values. Participants (144 men and 148 women) rated the importance of communication skills for either same-sex or cross-sex friends. Results indicate that, although men's and women's ratings of communication skills are similar, participant sex, gender, and sex of friend do exert some influence.

We propose a comprehensive explanation for gender differences in responses to supportive communication grounded in a dual-process theory of communication outcomes. Two studies confirmed consistent gender differences in responses by US college students to supportive communication and assessed the mediating effects of an ability factor (cognitive complexity) and two motivational factors (expressive and instrumental orientations) on situation elaboration and message evaluation. Study 1 focused on everyday comforting contexts (N = 318), whereas Study 2 focused on bereavement (N = 103). Both studies found that cognitive complexity mediated gender differences in situation elaboration and further found that cognitive complexity and expressive orientation collectively mediated gender differences in evaluative responses to supportive messages. Theoretical and pragmatic implications of the results are discussed.

Questionnaires were completed by 5th-, 8th-, and 11th-grade public schools students in rural and suburban school districts and by undergraduates at two universities in the United States ( n = 1,242). They were asked about their orientation to video games—the amount of time they played, their motives for doing so, and the game types they preferred—to better understand the context in which effects research might be organized. The conceptual schema for this research was the uses-and-gratifications perspective. The males in the sample played video games at twice the weekly average of the females, were consistently stronger in all measured motives than the females, and preferred physically oriented video games over the females’ preference for more traditional, thoughtful games. Younger players opted for the fantasy motive in their playing and older players more so for competition. Preference for physical games declined among the older males, and generally motives were stronger in the middle years of playing for both males and females than in the youngest and oldest age groups. Regression analyses explained considerably more variance in game playing for males than for females.

This study identifies grief management strategies that bereaved adults evaluate as more and less helpful, assesses whether the person centeredness of these strategies explains their helpfulness, and determines whether strategy helpfulness varies as a function of demographic, personality, and situational factors. Participants (105 bereaved young adults) assessed the helpfulness of 16 grief management strategies; these strategies were coded for their degree of person centeredness. Strategy person centeredness was strongly correlated with helpfulness. Strategy helpfulness varied as a function of participant gender and the disruptiveness of the decedent's death, but not as a function of need for cognition or decedent closeness.