Communicating resilience: predictors and outcomes of dyadic communication resilience processes among both cancer patients and cancer partners

Abstract

The communication theory of resilience describes five communication processes that serve to promote resilience. This research examines predictors and outcomes of the five resilience processes. This study examines pathways between communication efficacy and relational quality to dyadic communicative resilience processes and from these processes to outcomes of health management and evaluations of dyadic coping. Participants (N = 584) include cancer patients (n = 312) and partners of cancer patients (n = 272). Structural equation analyses revealed that for both patients and partners, increased communication efficacy positively predicts the majority of the communication resilience processes and increased relational quality positively predicts all processes. Although many of the resilience processes are positively associated with increased health management and evaluations of dyadic coping, one process was negatively associated with both study outcomes. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Dyadic coping and discrete emotions during COVID-19: Connecting the communication theory of resilience with relational uncertainty

“…In other words, much of the current literature linking humor to coping conceptualizes humor as a personal resiliency tool that individuals utilize to cope with stressful or traumatic events (Kuiper, 2012), focusing less on the dyadic nature of humor. In a recent examination of humor as an alternative logic, humor positively predicted cancer patient's reports of dyadic coping (Venetis et al, 2020). Findings from the current study further support the relationship between couples' use of humor as a communicative resilience process and dyadic coping efforts.…”

“…Maintaining and using communication networks, hereafter communication networks, occurs when individuals engage in communication efforts with those in their social network to alleviate stress associated with a disruption. Communication networks includes talk with one's partner, as evidenced in couples managing a cancer event (Venetis et al, 2020), as well as individuals outside of the dyad who may provide support (Dorrance Hall, 2018). Next, affirming identity anchors, hereafter identity anchors, represents communicative efforts to enhance or reinforce salient identities or values.…”

“…1 Although the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic can vary depending on numerous factors, such as having children at home, evidence suggests that the pandemic impacted everyone to some degree during the time of data collection (Courtemanche et al, 2020;Khoo & Lantos, 2020;Pietromonaco & Overall, 2020). Engaging in resilience communication has been linked to positive evaluations of dyadic coping during life disruptions (Venetis et al, 2020) and is likely important for evaluations of dyadic coping during the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

Are Individuals Harmed by Gerrymandering? Examining Access to Congressional District Offices

“…Communication that requires effort is more highly valued and respected (Vorys, 1946; Evans and Hayden, 2017). A survey of congressional staff members found that they considered personal letters more influential than personal emails , which outrank personal phone calls .…”

“…Centiment relies upon a diverse panel of participants who are periodically sent surveys on varied topics. Centiment has been used by scholars in a wide array of fields (see, for example, Venetis, Chernichky‐Karcher, and Lillie, 2020; Scaptura and Boyle, 2019; Locke, 2019) because of the diversity and quality of their respondent pool. Centiment also uses screening questions embedded in the survey to ensure that respondents are attending to the questions being asked and not merely clicking on answers.…”