How the Comforting Process Fails: Psychological Reactance to Support Messages

2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xi Tian ◽  
Denise Haunani Solomon ◽  
Kellie St.Cyr Brisini
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Psychological Reactance ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Network Member ◽  
Supportive Communication ◽  
Argument Quality ◽  
Final Sample

Abstract This study extends the theory of psychological reactance to the context of social support by examining how supportive communication is associated with psychological reactance and subsequent support outcomes. The final sample included 325 married adults who had experienced a marital disagreement, and were asked to evaluate a hypothetical support message that varied in the level of person-centeredness provided by a social network member. The results indicated that perceptions of support messages as conveying dominance and having weak argument quality were positively associated with psychological reactance. Low person-centered messages corresponded with more dominance and weaker argument quality. Low person-centered messages were associated with more psychological reactance through an indirect effect conveyed by a perceived threat to freedom. There was a significant, indirect effect between person-centeredness and emotional improvement conveyed by a perceived threat to freedom and psychological reactance. The discussion highlights the role of psychological reactance in social support.

Source Effects on Psychological Reactance to Regulatory Policies: The Role of Trust and Similarity

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 591-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwanseok Song ◽  
Katherine A. McComas ◽  
Krysten L. Schuler
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Behavioral Intentions ◽  
Psychological Reactance ◽  
Source Effects ◽  
Regulatory Policies ◽  
Message Source ◽  
Different Sources

Efforts to communicate risk reduction policies must consider how target audiences will respond to the source of the message. This study investigates how modifying the message source enhances or diminishes psychological reactance against a policy designed to curb a wildlife disease. In an experimental study, we attributed a press release announcing this policy to different sources. We found that the source had an indirect effect on reactance, which subsequently affected attitudes toward the policy and behavioral intentions. Specifically, the more similar and trustworthy participants perceived the source, the less likely the source was to induce freedom threat or reactance.

scholarly journals The role of perceived threat to freedom of choice in children's preference for scarcity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Harper
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Statistical Information ◽  
Psychological Reactance ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Freedom Of Choice ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Reactance Theory ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Children's Development

The present research investigated the role of perceived threat to freedom of choice in children’s development of preference for scarcity. In two experiments, 5- to 7-year-olds assisted a fictional agent in choosing between relatively scarce versus abundant toys in a “virtual shop.” Experiment 1 investigated the role of extremity of scarcity in children’s preference for scarcity, while Experiment 2 investigated the role of the presence of competition. These two factors were anticipated to activate perceived threat to freedom to choose the scarce objects, resulting in motivational arousal to choose the scarce objects. Overall, a preference for scarcity increased with age. When threat to freedom of choice was induced, 7-year-olds showed a robust preference for scarcity in both experiments. The findings are discussed in the context of reactance theory and other factors influencing children’s patterns of responses, including prosociality. This research contributes to our understanding of children’s use of statistical information. Key words: scarcity, threat to freedom of choice, psychological reactance

scholarly journals Indirect Effect of Social Support for Drinking on Drinking Outcomes: The Role of Motivation*

2010 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 930-937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorian Hunter-Reel ◽  
Barbara S. McCrady ◽  
Thomas Hildebrandt ◽  
Elizabeth E. Epstein
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Drinking Outcomes

scholarly journals The role of perceived threat to freedom of choice in children's preference for scarcity

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn Harper
Keyword(s):  
Key Words ◽  
Statistical Information ◽  
Psychological Reactance ◽  
Perceived Threat ◽  
Freedom Of Choice ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Reactance Theory ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Children's Development

The present research investigated the role of perceived threat to freedom of choice in children’s development of preference for scarcity. In two experiments, 5- to 7-year-olds assisted a fictional agent in choosing between relatively scarce versus abundant toys in a “virtual shop.” Experiment 1 investigated the role of extremity of scarcity in children’s preference for scarcity, while Experiment 2 investigated the role of the presence of competition. These two factors were anticipated to activate perceived threat to freedom to choose the scarce objects, resulting in motivational arousal to choose the scarce objects. Overall, a preference for scarcity increased with age. When threat to freedom of choice was induced, 7-year-olds showed a robust preference for scarcity in both experiments. The findings are discussed in the context of reactance theory and other factors influencing children’s patterns of responses, including prosociality. This research contributes to our understanding of children’s use of statistical information. Key words: scarcity, threat to freedom of choice, psychological reactance

Mediating Roles of Intimate Partner Violence, Stress, and Social Support on Depressive Symptoms Among Thai Women

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052096714
Author(s):  
Nanthana Thananowan ◽  
Nopporn Vongsirimas ◽  
Akadet Kedcham
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Thai Women

Prior research has shown that intimate partner violence (IPV), stress, and social support are associated with depressive symptoms. However, a possible mediating role of these variables linking depressive symptoms has not been fully investigated in Thailand. This study was conducted to assess the mediating roles of IPV, stress, and social support in the relationships between childhood abuse (CA), number of sexual partners (NSP), and depressive symptoms among 400 Thai women attending gynecology clinics. Results indicated that IPV was significantly positively correlated with stress and depressive symptoms but negatively correlated with social support. CA and NSP were significantly positively correlated with IPV, stress, and depressive symptoms, but negatively correlated with social support. Structural equation models (SEMs) showed that not only did IPV severity exhibit significantly indirect effect on depressive symptoms ( β = .178; p < .05), but it also had a significant, positive total effect on depressive symptoms ( β = .252; p < .05). In particular, IPV severity had the fully mediating effect on depressive symptoms through social support ( β = –.204; p < .05) and stress ( β = .158; p < .05). CA severity and NSP exhibited the significant indirect effect on depressive symptoms through IPV severity, stress, and social support. All the models analyzed showed that stress had an important mediator role ( β = .583; p < .05) on depressive symptoms. The model fitted very well to the empirical data and explained 53% of variance. Findings affirmed the important role of these mediators as well as the need to design interventions for reducing stress or increasing support for women experiencing IPV. Utilizing an empowerment approach among female outpatients to decrease stress and depressive symptoms is recommended.

Social Support and Well-Being in Early Adolescents: The Role of Mediating Variables

2001 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 163-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adela Yarcheski ◽  
Noreen E. Mahon ◽  
Thomas J. Yarcheski
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Nursing Practice ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Early Adolescents ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Final Sample ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived social support and general well-being in early adolescents and to test two variables, hopefulness and self-esteem, that theoretically mediate this relationship. The final sample consisted of 142 adolescents, ages 12 to 14, who responded to instruments measuring perceived social support, hopefulness, self-esteem, and general well-being in classroom settings. Correlational analysis supported the five hypothesized relationships. A series of regression analyses described by Baron and Kenny indicated that hopefulness and self-esteem each were mediators of the relationship between social support and well-being. Implications for nursing practice are addressed.

From Faux-Social to Pro-Social: The Mediating Role of Copresence in Developing Expectations of Social Support in a Game

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghee Yvette Wohn
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Social Network ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Helping Behavior ◽  
Instrumental Support ◽  
Network Games ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Simple Action

Social network games—games that incorporate network data from social network sites—heavily rely on helping behavior between players as a central mechanism of play. Does this “faux social” behavior still generate expectations of social support among players? An experiment (N = 88) was conducted to examine the effect of helping on copresence and perceived social support between strangers playing the Facebook game Cityville. Three types of social support were examined: instrumental support within the game, instrumental support outside of the game, and emotional support. Findings indicate that the simple action of being helped in a game generates copresence, the feeling of proximity in a virtual environment. Copresence was a positive predictor of all three types of perceived social support but had highest explanatory power for instrumental support within the game.

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