 |
|
 
        |
The
aims of this proposal are to (a) advance a theoretical analysis of a set
of interpersonal processes through which close relationships may promote
health, and (b) investigate the model empirically. On the theoretical
front, the proposal integrates three heretofore independent lines of research,
which suggest that, (a) relationships exert salutary effects on health,
(b) expressing (rather than suppressing) emotions is associated with positive
health outcomes, and (c) individuals express emotions selectively to those
who, they believe, care about their welfare. The thesis is that well-functioning,
communal relationships promote health at least in part by facilitating
emotion expression.
Research is proposed to investigate
three aspects of the model. First, an experimental study investigates
physiological responses to expressing emotion following the manipulation
of relationship context. After being informed that he or she will
perform an anxiety-inducing speech task, each participate will talk about
this forthcoming task to: (a) a person who cares about their needs, (b)
a stranger, or (c) a tape recorder (by oneself). As emotion is expressed
in each context, skin conductance, heart rate, and blood pressure will
be measured. Physiological reactivity is expected to be lowest when
disclosing to a caring other and highest when disclosing to a stranger;
similar patterns are expected during the task itself.
|
| . | Second, using
extant self-report data from married couples, mediational analyses will
be conducted to assess the plausibility of the predictions that perceiving
that one's partner cares for one's welfare promotes emotional expression
which, in turn, promotes health. Third, in ongoing research, college
students are first led to expect a communal (or non-communal) relationship
with another student. After emotions are elicited with film stimuli,
the degree to which those emotions are voluntarily expressed to the other
is assessed. In sum, these studies represent a preliminary attempt
to understand the health consequences of facilitated emotional expression
in relationships.
(PDF VERSION)  (MS
WORD VERSION)
|
| 12/7/2005 tc |
