{"title":"Supportive communication as a collective phenomenon: a dynamic systems account of emotional support provision and outcomes in online health communities","authors":"Stephen A Rains, Shelby N Carter","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae019","url":null,"abstract":"Developing a complete understanding of supportive communication requires learning more about how it unfolds among groups. We leveraged dynamic systems theory to document group-level emotional support provision practices in online health communities and examine their implications for discussion processes and the mood of support seekers. We evaluated sequences of person-centered feedback in the first three responses to threads started by community members seeking emotional support. Twelve different patterns of sequences were identified reflecting collective support provision behavior. Compared to the sequence containing only implicit recognition of a seeker’s feelings, sequences containing high person-centered feedback were more likely to foster high person-centered feedback in a later community response to the thread and more likely to be associated with an improvement in support seekers’ self-reported mood. The results of this project demonstrate how online communities collectively construct emotional support and the implications of those patterns for support seeking and provision.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142178749","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The influence of threat and right-wing authoritarianism on the selection of online (dis)information—a conceptual replication and extension of Lavine et al. (2005)","authors":"L. Klebba, Stephan Winter","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae016","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Over the decades, communication research has investigated the situational and personal conditions under which people particularly prefer attitude-consistent over attitude-inconsistent content (confirmation bias). In a central study, Lavine et al. (2005) [Lavine, H., Lodge, M., & Freitas, K. (2005). Authoritarianism, threat, and motivated reasoning. Political Psychology, 26(2), 219–244.] examined how right-wing authoritarianism (RWA) and threat cause bias when processing political information. Their laboratory experiment suggested that right-wing authoritarians prefer attitude-consistent information in the presence of a threat. Given new crisis environments accompanied by various threats, we re-examined this interaction effect and conceptually replicated Lavine et al.'s central hypothesis in a contemporary media environment. In an online experiment (N = 1,118), we focused on selective exposure to verified news and disinformation and tracked participants’ selection unobtrusively. Contrary to expectations, the interaction between different threats and RWA did not increase selective exposure to attitude-consistent (dis)information. The results challenge the hypothesis’ underlying framework and make it necessary to consider new ways of advancing the theoretical model.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141641696","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Shannon M Cruz, Brian Manata, Andrew C High, Timothy R Worley
{"title":"On the nature of influence: identifying and characterizing superdiffusers in seven countries","authors":"Shannon M Cruz, Brian Manata, Andrew C High, Timothy R Worley","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae017","url":null,"abstract":"An important component of theoretical and applied work on social influence is identifying influential people. Boster et al.’s theoretical framework on superdiffusers provides one method of doing so, but important questions on the nature of influence remain. In particular, because existing studies have primarily sampled U.S. college students, it remains unclear whether (a) the framework adequately characterizes superdiffusers in different populations and (b) our current understanding of superdiffusers applies outside of the United States. To address these questions, we used an online survey to examine factorial validity, metric invariance, and correlates of superdiffuser characteristics in the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, South Africa, India, Pakistan, and Australia (total N = 3,476). Results suggest the superdiffuser framework can fruitfully be used to describe and identify influential individuals in diverse contexts. Influence also appears to be a relatively trait-like individual difference rather than a matter of unique fit to a particular country or culture.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141588605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David E Clementson, Wenqing Zhao, Michael J Beatty
{"title":"Atoning vs. evading when caught transgressing: two multi-theory-based experiments investigating strategies for politicians responding to scandal","authors":"David E Clementson, Wenqing Zhao, Michael J Beatty","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae015","url":null,"abstract":"Politicians tend to try deflecting scandals. Based on an attribution theory-driven perspective on persuasion, however, politicians should proactively confess. In a preregistered, multiple-message design, we conduct controlled, random assignment experiments. A mediation model is tested. Inspired by crisis communication’s change-of-meaning concept, the first variable appraises the extent to which voters perceive that the messaging indicates the politician is engaging in a cover-up. The second linkage is the politician’s credibility. The outcome variable is voters’ behavioral intentions. In Experiment 1 (N = 905 U.S. voters), stealing thunder and apologizing outperform stonewalling, changing the subject, sequentially apologizing plus deflecting, or silence. Experiment 2 (N = 277) finds that, in a sex scandal, stealing thunder and apologizing continue to perform equally well. Our theoretical contribution resides in enhancing the explanatory power of theories designed to explain image repair, as well as empirically testing the independent and combined role of apology and stealing thunder.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141504741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nehama Lewis, Emily A Andrews, Denali Keefe, Nathan Walter
{"title":"A meta-analytical review of the relationship, antecedents, and consequences of information seeking and information scanning","authors":"Nehama Lewis, Emily A Andrews, Denali Keefe, Nathan Walter","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae012","url":null,"abstract":"Prior studies have examined correlates of health information seeking and scanning separately, focusing on distinct theoretical frameworks, antecedents, and outcomes. In this meta-analysis we synthesize this research (k = 21; N = 39,510) by examining the relationship between health information seeking and scanning, and their key antecedents and outcomes. Results show that seeking and scanning are moderately and positively correlated, supporting the claim that these are distinct, albeit related, and behaviors. Level of education and income are positive correlates of scanning (but not seeking) behaviors. Conversely, issue-relevance is positively associated with seeking (but not scanning). Results show substantial parity in associations between seeking and scanning with topic-relevant attitudes and behavioral intention. Information seeking (but not scanning), however, is a significant correlate of risk perceptions and perceived social norms. Thus, scanning and seeking are associated with distinct antecedents, but have similar effects. We offer theoretical implications and directions for future research.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141529203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Testimonials as motivators: the case of end-of-life conversations","authors":"Judy Watts, Emily Moyer-Gusé, Michael D Slater","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae013","url":null,"abstract":"Persuasive testimonials are common in commercial, nonprofit, and public health contexts. They pose challenges to existing theories of narrative persuasion because they are typically both narrative and overtly persuasive. Prior research has suggested testimonials may be effective with counter-attitudinal recipients by decreasing negative affective responses and increasing meaningful affect. Often, however, testimonials may address behaviors that are anxiety provoking rather than counter-attitudinal; prior research provides little theoretical or empirical guidance concerning message influence in the face of such anxiety. An experiment comparing a testimonial versus a non-narrative message advocating end-of-life conversations found that the testimonial message increased behavioral intentions via meaningful affect and self-efficacy. The testimonial did not decrease anxiety, and there was no differential impact on high versus low anxiety recipients. The authors conclude that a eudaimonic testimonial may serve as a motivator of behavior regardless of anxiety concerning the message topic, as well as a means of increasing self-efficacy.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141504745","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Getting socialized but trying not to get stuck: early career professionals’ liminality in dual socialization processes","authors":"DaJung Woo, Rachel M Acosta","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae014","url":null,"abstract":"Early career professionals actively seek career advancement opportunities while undergoing socialization within their organizations. This study employs the concept of liminality to examine their experience of in-betweenness in dual socialization—simultaneous organizational socialization and vocational/organizational anticipatory socialization for the next career chapter. We conducted repeat interviews with 22 U.S. early career professionals (n = 65), employed full-time. This longitudinal study uncovers how participants construct liminality as either a planned or an emergent phase; factors contributing to their discursive tension in liminality over time; and how they communicatively manage the tension to move forward. We propose a refined model of socialization [Jablin, F. (2001). Organizational entry, assimilation, and exit. In F. Jablin & L. Putnam (Eds.), The new handbook of organizational communication (pp. 732–818). Sage], which integrates liminality as a phase in which individuals feel neither fully “in” nor “out” of their organization. This enhanced model theorizes dual socialization as dynamic and interconnected processes through permeable organizational boundaries, addressing the contemporary career landscape with an increasing number and types of employment options.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141504744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Campaign-induced interpersonal communication following exposure to strong and weak persuasive messages","authors":"Shu Scott Li, James Price Dillard, Youzhen Su","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae011","url":null,"abstract":"Media campaigns can create change in their audiences directly via message exposure and indirectly via conversations about the campaign. An experiment (N = 232) exposed regular consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages to either strong or weak messages that advocated reduced consumption, then allowed conversation or did not. There was evidence of direct media effects in that heavy drinkers who privately judged the messages as effective reported higher intended consumption reduction. However, when conversation was allowed, it erased the desired effect of campaign messages on intended reduction. Heavy drinkers had less favorable conversations about strong campaign messages than weak ones. Further, analytic language (e.g., but, because) augmented the persuasiveness of strong messages among heavy drinkers, but detracted from the persuasiveness of weak messages. Thus, we observed a complex interplay between intrapersonal processes devoted to the accurate assessment of campaign messages and interpersonal processes that defended existing levels of sugary beverage consumption.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141504743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kellie St Cyr Brisini, Rebecca Riccardi, Ningyang Wang
{"title":"Turbulence, framing, and planning among college daters: testing relational turbulence theory in a dyadic, lab study","authors":"Kellie St Cyr Brisini, Rebecca Riccardi, Ningyang Wang","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae010","url":null,"abstract":"Engaging relational turbulence theory (RTT), this study examined how dating partners’ relationship quality predicted cognitions and communication during planning conversations. In a lab-based study, college dating partners (n = 71 different gender couples) assessed their relational turbulence, participated in two planning activities, and then reported their perceptions of collaborative planning and relational framing for each activity. Outside observers rated the conversations for collaborative planning, dominance, and affiliation behaviors. Following RTT, we hypothesized that relational turbulence would lead to decreases in collaborative planning and engagement in more negative relational frames. Actor–partner interdependence models with repeated measures indicated differing effects on participant perception and outsider observations of the variables. Results provide support for RTT’s relatively untested propositions, suggest potential gender differences among different gender dating partners’ experiences, and reiterate the complexity of relational communication among dating partners.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141195294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"How repeated exposure to persuasive messaging shapes message responses over time: a longitudinal experiment","authors":"Chris Skurka, David M. Keating","doi":"10.1093/hcr/hqae008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqae008","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000 Repeated exposure theories have articulated several processes that explain how message repetition shapes persuasion over time, yet these processes are often studied in isolation. Moreover, repeated exposure theories have largely failed to specify the temporal trajectories of negative message responses over time. Integrating theorizing on repeated exposure, psychological reactance, and message fatigue, we conducted a mixed-design experiment (N = 1,416 total observations), varying the amount of daily exposure audiences had to campaign advertisements about distracted driving over nearly 2 weeks. Exposure to these messages (compared to control messages) led to greater message elaboration and reactance but not fatigue or attitudes. We found no evidence that these message reactions shifted linearly, logarithmically, or quadratically over time, with the exception that anger increased linearly with subsequent exposures. These findings suggest constraints on predictions made by repeated exposure frameworks, and post hoc analyses underscore the need to distinguish fatigue’s two dimensions conceptually and operationally.","PeriodicalId":51377,"journal":{"name":"Human Communication Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141112374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"文学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}