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The cognitive-emotional theory of esteem support messages (CETESM) posits that esteem support can enhance recipients' state self-esteem after an acute threat. To test the CETESM and other supportive communication theories, researchers have conducted experiments employing trained confederates who provide supportive messages of varying quality to naïve disclosers. Manipulation checks of confederate fidelity to conditions are typically conducted at the level of the entire conversation. However, conversation-level checks fail to provide critical information about what happens in interactants' turns at talk. The present report reanalyzes data from a study framed by the CETESM in which confederates were trained to enact four esteem support message styles when interacting with a naïve discloser. Engaging in turn-based coding and employing analytical techniques such as configural frequency analysis (CFA), we test hypotheses and research questions regarding: (1) how confederate turns correspond to their assigned condition; (2) the nature of discloser turns in esteem support interactions with confederates; (3) the nature of discloser-to-confederate turn transitions; and (4) discloser-to-confederate turn transitions associated with key outcomes for disclosers. Results indicate that while many confederate turns were consistent with their assigned condition, interesting deviations occurred in response to discloser turns, some of which were linked to outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resilience is important for students transitioning to college given vast attrition rates due to the stress of change and new challenges. This study applied family communication patterns theory (FCP) to explore the relationships among family environment, helicopter parenting, and student resilience. Two mediation models were tested with survey data from 2,253 people in their first semester of college in the United States. Both conversation and conformity orientations were positively associated with perceived helicopter parenting behaviors. However, only conversation orientation was positively associated with resilience. Helicopter parenting mediated the relationship between FCP and resilience. Theoretical and translational implications for scholars and parents are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 support messages of varying quality. The present experiment grounded in the CETESM, examines how provider gender, provider sex, and recipient sex influence the likelihood of using esteem support messages containing emotion-focused (EF; high or low) or problem-focused (PF; high or low) content, as well as a neutral message (no EF or PF content). Results indicated that females and highly feminine individuals were more likely than males and highly masculine individuals to endorse the use of high EF and high PF messages. Highly feminine individuals were more likely to endorse the use of low EF messages than highly masculine individuals. Femininity and masculinity were both negatively associated with the use of neutral messages, and they interacted so that individuals high in both masculinity and femininity were least likely to adopt this strategy. Sex of provider and recipient interacted such that female providers with male recipients were more likely to endorse the use of high PF messages than male providers with male recipients. Theoretical and pragmatic implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates that receiving esteem support has multiple benefits, however, less is known about the factors that influence the production of esteem support messages of varying quality. We examine how characteristics of potential recipients shape esteem support message production, specifically, how recipients' effort to help themselves may alter emotions and motivations of potential esteem support providers, affecting the quality of esteem support messages produced. A between-subjects experiment tested predictions derived from the attribution-emotion-action model (AEAM) and the cognitive-emotional theory of esteem support messages (CETESM). Results are consistent with a process of serial mediation where recipient effort causes effort attributions in potential support providers, which increase sympathy, which increases helping motivation, leading to more high-quality content in esteem support messages. Anger, although negatively associated with effort attribution, did not appear to play a mediating role in esteem support message production within the job search context. Theoretic and pragmatic implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]