ABSTRACT This exploratory, cross-sectional study examines associations between individual differences in entertainment media motivations (hedonic and eudaimonic), narrative engageability, entertainment genre preferences, and conspiracy belief. Drawing on research suggesting that conspiracy theories may serve epistemic and existential functions similar to those gratified by certain forms of entertainment, we tested a parallel mediation model in which genre preferences mediate relationships between motivational and narrative engageability orientations and conspiracy belief. Using a U.S. adult sample (N = 399), we found that preferences for excitement- and suspense-oriented media (e.g. action, crime, thriller, horror, mystery) were significantly associated with conspiracy belief. Significant indirect effects emerged through genre preferences, with ease of accepting unrealism and suspense/curiosity propensity relating to conspiracy belief via preferences for suspense-oriented media. Hedonic motivation also showed a direct positive association with conspiracy belief, consistent with the proposition that conspiracy theories possess entertainment value. Results suggest that the narrative ecosystems individuals inhabit – shaped by motivational orientations and narrative processing tendencies – may relate to openness to conspiratorial thinking. The design is cross-sectional, thus findings reflect patterns of association rather than causal effects.

ABSTRACT The emotional culture of a workplace plays a vital role in organizational success. The present project builds on prior organizational emotional culture scholarship by 1) exploring specific positive communication behaviors derived from the model of positive communication that leaders can employ to facilitate a positive emotional culture (PEC), 2) examining the potential benefits of a PEC, including enhanced employee engagement and increased employee advocacy, and 3) grounding the research in broaden-and-build theory. The findings revealed that although positive communication practices from leaders do not directly impact employee engagement nor advocacy, they do shape the development of a positive emotional culture in the workplace, which in turn does influence those productive outcomes. This study highlights the significance of emotions in the workplace and offers practical insights for leaders to foster a more motivated and loyal workforce, benefitting both organizations and their employees.

ABSTRACT What type of media content resonates most for viewers when it comes to the stigma surrounding mental health treatment: (1) fictional narrative or (2) celebrity issue advocacy? Analyzing experimental data from a June 2023 study (N = 322), the research examines the differential impact of exposure to entertainment content from Ted Lasso vs. celebrity issue advocacy efforts by cast members at the White House in March 2023 on perceptions of source liking and source credibility. The results suggest that Ted Lasso viewers have higher levels of source liking for entertainment content while those who have had social contact with someone seeking mental health treatment are more receptive to celebrity issue advocacy efforts. The implications of the findings and their impact on strategic messaging surrounding the issue of mental health treatment and the reduction of stigma are discussed.

ABSTRACT Many patients struggle to understand complex health information. Guided by communication accommodation theory, this study used experimental methods to examine the influence of healthcare provider explanation strategies (control, analogy, visual analogy/demonstration, analogy plus non-example) and delivery format (video, vignette) on perceptions of accommodation, recall, clarity, perceived understanding, and likelihood to make a future appointment. The explanation strategies consisted of variations of a jelly donut analogy to describe a health issue. U.S. adult participants completed an online survey consisting of either watching a video of an actor provider giving a message or reading a vignette of a provider message, imagining they were being diagnosed with a herniated disk. The video format and the use of analogies plus non-examples were perceived as more overaccommodating than the control or visual analogy/demonstration conditions. No significant effects were found for perceived clarity or perceived understanding, but for recall and likelihood of making a future appointment, the written format was superior to the video format. Providers may want to consider using written materials for explanations of health issues.

ABSTRACT The present study examined employees’ knowledge of their organization’s workplace romance policy and its relationship with their workplace romance experiences and beliefs. It also investigated differences in employees’ beliefs about workplace romance’s reputational effects based on their workplace romance experiences. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of self-reported responses obtained from a sample of 642 adults working across industries in major US cities yielded several meaningful findings. Namely, employees in organizations with (versus without) a workplace romance policy were more likely to have participated in and observed a workplace romance, were more comfortable with future workplace romance participation, and were more likely to believe workplace romances were common and affected professional reputations. Employees with (versus without) workplace romance experience were also more likely to report positive reputational effects of hierarchical workplace romances for both male and female executives. Based on reported findings, we offer evidence-based recommendations for policy development.

ABSTRACT This study examined the ways in which characteristics of support interactions associate with psychological reactance and, in turn, affect support outcomes. Recent studies have linked the content/quality of support messages to psychological reactance. We build on those findings by exploring associations between reactance and features of the support provider, recipient, and problem-context. We gathered data from 615 college students who described a disagreement with a dating partner (280) or friend (335). Participants reported their perceptions of perceived support availability and relational closeness with the support provider. They then evaluated a support message that varied in verbal person-centeredness. Results suggest a mediating role of psychological reactance on support outcomes. Significant mean differences were identified for support outcomes between the dating and friend contexts, but the associations between the variables were not statistically different between the groups. Discussion addresses supportive communication as a form of social influence that may induce psychological reactance.

ABSTRACT This study tested parents’ nonaccommodation of their young adult child’s sexual identity and the child’s topic avoidance and surface acting as mediators of family communication patterns (FCPs, i.e., conversation and conformity orientations) and shared family identity (SFI). Participants included 205 sexual minorities who reported on their parents’ nonaccommodation in conversations about LGBTQ+ issues. Both FCP orientations were indirectly associated with SFI with each parent through different explanatory pathways. Notably, conformity orientation was indirectly associated with SFI with father through mother’s nonaccommodation to topic avoidance with mother. Conversely, it was indirectly associated with SFI with mother through father’s nonaccommodation to topic avoidance with father. The results extend FCP theory by illuminating a relational dynamic among identity-divergent family members that may create (un)healthy alliances within families.

ABSTRACT Revisiting hope as a discrete emotion, we investigated hope as a central concept in this study. Hope was explicated as a positive discrete emotion associated with a nonzero but uncertain prospect (with a probability between 0 and 1) of an unattained goal. Hope can be successfully induced with messages that highlight a discrepancy between the current state and an unattained goal in tandem with a positive but uncertain prospect of goal attainment. Hope’s persuasive impact above and beyond fear was tested in a web-based experiment with health messages that promoted sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption reduction and support for related public policies. Results demonstrated the impact of hope on both SSB consumption reduction and policy support as well as its potential interaction with fear in conferring persuasive effects. These findings offer a guideline for experimental manipulations of hope and set the stage for replications and further tests of moderators.

ABSTRACT Doula assistance before, during, and after childbirth can reduce infant mortality, improve birth outcomes, and ensure a birthing person’s physical and emotional needs are met. However, doula care in the U.S. remains underutilized. Both birthing persons and medical providers may be unaware of the support roles doulas fulfill. The goal of this study is to examine how birth doulas communicate about their role as advocates through the provision of social support and describe the barriers they encounter when doing so. In-depth interviews with 10 doulas showed evidence of indirect advocacy through network, emotional, and tangible support as well as direct advocacy through informational and esteem support. Further, doulas discussed barriers related to the hospital setting, compensation, and accessibility. This study aims to cast light on the ways interpersonal health advocacy and support are intertwined in doula work and consider how doula assistance can be optimized and expanded.

ABSTRACT This study examined emerging adults’ financial conversations with parents as mediators of family communication patterns (FCPs) (i.e., family conversation and conformity orientations) and emerging adults’ financial independence (i.e., financial autonomy and self-efficacy). Participants included 202 emerging adults ages 18 to 25. Whereas conversation orientation positively predicted both financial self-efficacy and autonomy, conformity orientation positively predicted only financial autonomy. Indirect associations emerged between both FCP orientations and financial autonomy via the frequency of financial conversations with mother, whereas indirect associations between both FCP orientations and financial self-efficacy emerged via financial conversations with father. The findings extend FCP theory by illuminating distinct explanatory pathways from the family communication environment to financial socialization in emerging adults.