“Transformation Tuesday”: Temporal context and post valence influence the provision of social support on social media

Social network sites (SNSs) such as Facebook have become integral in the development and maintenance of interpersonal relationships. Users of SNSs seek social support and validation, often using posts that illustrate how they have changed over time. The purpose of the present research is to examine how the valence and temporal context of an SNS post affect the likelihood of other users providing social support. Participants viewed hypothetical SNS posts and reported their intentions to provide social support to the users. Results revealed that participants were more likely to provide social support for posts that were positive and included temporal context (i.e., depicted improvement over time; Study 1). Furthermore, this research suggests that visual representations of change over time are needed to elicit social support (Study 2). Results are discussed in terms of their practical implications for SNS users and theoretical implications for the literature on social support and social media.     

To boldly go where no relationship has gone before: Commentary on interpersonal relationships in the digital age

Individuals have a need to maintain positive social interactions, and with the advent of new-media technologies, there are a myriad ways individuals can satisfy this need by engaging socially in mediated (non-face-to-face) communication, hence the need for a special issue on “Relationships in the Digital Age.” The articles in this special issue reflect the need to answer theoretical questions brought forth by the increased tendency for individuals to create and maintain interpersonal relationships through mediated forms of communication. The commentary highlights the need for increased research on mediated interpersonal relationships by psychologists and discusses how the articles in the issue can be used to answer theoretical questions about mediated interpersonal communication. The article ends with speculation on how media may create social spaces that may be advantageous for some individuals.     

Media violence, physical aggression, and relational aggression in school age children: a short-term longitudinal study

Many studies have shown that media violence has an effect on children's subsequent aggression. This study expands upon previous research in three directions: (1) by examining several subtypes of aggression (verbal, relational, and physical), (2) by measuring media violence exposure (MVE) across three types of media, and (3) by measuring MVE and aggressive/prosocial behaviors at two points in time during the school year. In this study, 430 3rd-5th grade children, their peers, and their teachers were surveyed. Children's consumption of media violence early in the school year predicted higher verbally aggressive behavior, higher relationally aggressive behavior, higher physically aggressive behavior, and less prosocial behavior later in the school year. Additionally, these effects were mediated by hostile attribution bias. The findings are interpreted within the theoretical framework of the General Aggression Model.     

Shyness,sociability, and the role of media synchronicity in the use of computer‐mediated communication for interpersonal communication

This study analysed how university students in Hong Kong with varying degrees of shyness and sociability utilized computer‐mediated communication (CMC) technologies for interpersonal communication. As spontaneous communication can increase the workload on working memory and accentuate feelings of social anxiety, it was hypothesized that shy students were more likely to use email and social network sites (asynchronous CMC) more frequently, and instant messaging and chat less (synchronous CMC). Results from an online questionnaire provided partial support for the hypotheses and suggested distinctive usage patterns separated by media synchronicity. Moreover, the analyses revealed a significant interaction between shyness and sociability on asynchronous CMC use.     

You are what you tweet: Personality expression and perception on Twitter

Microblogging services such as Twitter have become increasingly popular in recent years. However, little is known about how personality is manifested and perceived in microblogs. In this study, we measured the Big Five personality traits of 142 participants and collected their tweets over a 1-month period. Extraversion, agreeableness, openness, and neuroticism were associated with specific linguistic markers, suggesting that personality manifests in microblogs. Meanwhile, eight observers rated the participants’ personality on the basis of their tweets. Results showed that observers relied on specific linguistic cues when making judgments, and could only judge agreeableness and neuroticism accurately. This study provides new empirical evidence of personality expression in naturalistic settings, and points to the potential of utilizing social media for personality research.     

Fear Associated With September 11 Television Coverage in Oklahoma City Bombing Survivors

This study explored television viewing of the September 11 attacks in 99 survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing and examined the relationships of event-related television viewing with concerns about safety and danger in survivors with and without bombing-related posttraumatic stress disorder. The number of hours of viewing September 11 television coverage was related to worry about personal and family danger and to increased checking on loved ones but not to September 11–related posttraumatic responses. Some bombing survivors discontinued September 11 media contact due to fear. The findings suggest the importance of monitoring television viewing in survivors of prior incidents.     

Video games: support for the evolving family therapist

Video games are a growing part of USA and world culture. Gaming may have addictive effects on some gamers and may foster violent thoughts and behaviour in children and adults. Conversely, there are documented positive outcomes from playing video games. Through this growing media, family therapists have a new gateway to better understand the experience of a younger generation of clients. To keep up with a changing client base, family therapists must learn about video games, their contextual impacts, addictive aspects and possible uses in the therapeutic setting while ignoring the myth that all gaming is harmful.     

Emotion Regulation with Mindful Arts Activities Using a Personalized Self-Soothing Kit

Contrary to the occupational therapy tradition, there is little current research on harmonizing expressive doing with contemporary occupational therapy practice. This phenomenological multiple case study explored an integrated application of mindfulness, creative activity, and sensory modulation for adult mental health services users by making and using personalized self-soothing kits. The results showed significant improvements in arousal regulation, positive changes in emotion regulation and mixed results for mood regulation. Progress in participation in present roles and an increased focus on future productivity goals were also among the outcomes reported. The theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.     

Book reviews

Abstract

Eldercare by James Kenny&;Stephen Spicer. Buffalo, NY: Prometheus Books, 1988, 152 pages, $11.95 paper

Lonely All the Time: Recognizing, Understanding and Overcoming Sex Addiction, for Addicts and Co-dependents by Ralph Earle&;Gregory Crow with Kevin Osborn. New York: Pocket Books, 1989, 337 pages, $19.95

The Imperfect Therapist: Learning from Failure in Therapeutic Practice by Jeffrey A. Kotter&;Diane S. Blau. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1989, 188 pages, $19.95

Families with a Difference: Varieties of Surrogate Parenthood by Michael Humphreys&;Heather Humphreys. New York: Routledge, 1988, 177 pages, $45.00

Between Husbands and Wives: Communication in Marriage by Mary Anne Fitzpatrick. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1988, 283 pages, $35.00 hardbound, $16.50 paperback     

Changing Public Attitudes as a Prevention Strategy to Reduce Intimate Partner Violence

ABSTRACT

Although violence by intimate partners has decreased in the past decade, it is still a problem affecting many women. For instance, IPV accounted for 22% of violent crimes against women between 1993 and 1998 (NCVS). The paucity of research evaluating the effectiveness of primary prevention strategies to reduce IPV has been recognized in various reports on intimate partner violence. Experts have suggested that public awareness campaigns would be helpful both to inform abused women about strategies for getting help, and to potentially change pub-Address correspondence to Jacquelyn C. Campbell, PhD, RN, Johns Hopkins University, School of Nursing, 525 North Wolfe Street, Room 436, Baltimore, MD21205. lic attitudes and norms about IPV. This article reviews published research available on public education campaigns regarding intimate partner violence, as well as education campaigns conducted for other issues, in order to better understand the potential for success and the limitations of this type of intervention.