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Via open-ended responses, we examined causal attributions generated for disclosing or not disclosing personal information to one's mother, father, same-sex friend, and dating partner. Participants (238 male and female college students) frequently mentioned having a close relationship/trusting the other and seeking social support to explain disclosure, as well as protecting the other and fear of losing the other's respect as reasons not to disclose. Certain attributions (e.g., duty to inform, privacy concerns, protecting the other, superficial relationship) were mentioned selectively to explain disclosure or nondisclosure to particular types of relationship partners. The findings illustrate goals that are consistent with social exchange/interdependence and privacy theories of disclosure decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experimental study examined social comparison activity among individuals with diabetes, focusing on how they react to information that other people are functioning well or poorly with their own diabetes prognosis and psychological adjustment. Based on a 3 × 3 factorial design, individuals with diabetes ( n = 108) read one of nine interviews about another person whose diabetes prognosis and psychological adjustment were described as good, poor, or unspecified. Ratings were obtained on participants' desire to seek information and affiliate with the target as well as on evaluations of their own physical and psychological coping. Results indicated that individuals desired more emotional support from someone who was well adjusted than poorly adjusted in coping with diabetes, and they avoided seeking information from someone who was doing poorly psychologically. Participants also perceived their diabetes condition as better when they compared themselves against someone doing poorly than well, especially on the diabetes prognosis dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]