Joint Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Science Seminar: Erica Szkody

Joint Clinical Psychology and Cognitive Science Seminar: Erica Szkody

Let's Talk About Sex: The Dual Process Model of Supportive Communication in Couples

Supportive messages occur within most relationships. Researchers have found strong relationships between social support and various physical and psychological health outcomes but the specific mechanisms at work have yet to be fully explored. Many factors contribute to whether a supportive interaction is processed as helpful or supportive by the recipient including relational factors, message content, past experiences, etc. For intimate couples, the supportive messages individuals provide their partner may inhibit or contribute to their risky sexual behavior. The current study will examine the contextual factors such as family communication patterns and relationship quality with parents and intimate partners on message content and the perception of social support within intimate relationships. Emerging adult couples (N = 150) will be recruited from a large Southern university in the United States to discuss their risky sexual behavior with a partner so that the interaction between contextual factors, supportive message content, and supportive message processing may be examined.


Date & Time

Friday, November 2, 2018 - 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Location

Old Main, Room 1220