Positive Communication Behaviors Research Articles

Semiotic Analysis of Positive Interpersonal Communication Behavior in The Web Series Film "Setan Taubat"

A web series is a serialized program similar to television shows, but the difference is that it is distributed through electronic media. In 2020, a popular YouTube content creator in Indonesia, along with their team, launched a web series titled "Setan Taubat." The web series revolves around positive activities during the holy month of Ramadan and tells the story of a successful hijab entrepreneur who has a supernatural friend named Becir. Many new developments in the storyline pique the curiosity of the audience, and the series conveys positive messages and behaviors. Verbal messages are emphasized in this web series. This research aims to analyze the forms of positive interpersonal communication behavior in the web series "Setan Taubat" using Charles Sanders Pierce's semiotics theory, which categorizes signs based on symbols, objects, and interpretants known as the meaning triangle. The research approach utilized is qualitative and descriptive to construct the meaning of messages in the web series "Setan Taubat" and comprehend the phenomenon by describing it through words. Additionally, the study employs semiotic analysis methods. Primary data collection is conducted through observation of the web series, and secondary data is obtained from documentation and literature review. The research results indicate that the web series "Setan Taubat" contains forms of positive interpersonal communication behavior as identified through Charles Sanders Pierce's semiotic analysis. Positive communication behavior that supports interpersonal communication includes openness, positive behavior, supportive behavior, empathy, and equality. Examples of attitudes include care, wisdom, responsibility, and others. These behaviors can be observed through the data findings presented in the research.

A day in the life: Couples' everyday communication and subsequent relationship outcomes.

Understanding how communication processes contribute to well-functioning versus distressed couple relationships has relied largely on brief, laboratory-based conversations. Harnessing technological advancements, the present study extends the literature by capturing couples' naturalistic communication over one full day at Time 1 (T1). This study tested associations between data-driven categories of couple communication behaviors and relationship outcomes (i.e., relationship aggression, satisfaction, and dissolution) at Time 2 (T2), approximately 1 year later. Emerging adults in different-gender dating couples (n = 106 couples; 212 individuals; Mage = 22.57 ± 2.44; M relationship length = 30.49 months ± 24.05; 72.2% non-White) were each provided a smartphone programmed to audio record approximately 50% of a typical day. Interactions between partners were transcribed and coded for location, activity, affect, and a range of positive and negative communication behaviors for each partner. Even after controlling for T1 assessments of the relevant outcome, one's own hostility and one's partner's hostility at T1 were each positively associated with T2 relationship aggression and negatively associated with T2 relationship satisfaction. One's own withdrawal at T1 was positively associated with T2 relationship aggression perpetration, whereas one's partner's withdrawal was negatively linked to relationship satisfaction at T2. One's own playfulness, unexpectedly, was linked to lower subsequent relationship satisfaction. Withdrawal increased the likelihood of relationship dissolution, whereas warmth and playfulness decreased the likelihood of dissolution. The relevance of couples' ordinary, everyday communication for meaningful relationship outcomes is discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Beyond language proficiency: Navigating EFL teachers’ relationship skills competence through their perceptions and strategies in the classroom

The primary objective of this research was to explore the relationship skills competence of EFL teachers by means of scrutinizing their perceptions and strategies within the classroom. To achieve this, multiple interviews, including one semi-structured written and four focus group interviews, were conducted with 19 EFL teachers in Iran, who were selected through convenience sampling. The data were analyzed using three coding cycles of grounding theory, i.e., open, axial, and selective coding. The study uncovered three main components that encapsulated the participants' perceptions: establishing a productive and optimistic relationship, creating a supportive climate, and maintaining explicit communication, and three major categories for their strategies: trust-building strategies, positive communication behaviors, and communicating good information. In conclusion, the findings highlighted the centrality of rapport-building strategies in the EFL context, which have some practical implications for EFL teacher candidates in enhancing their interpersonal skills for establishing constructive teacher-student relationships.

Communication Competency and Positive Communication Among Women in Bihar, India: A Case Study of Heifer International’s Community Development Efforts

ABSTRACT Nonprofit humanitarian organizations work to alleviate poverty and are evaluated in part on their effectiveness in doing so. One such organization is Heifer International, a global humanitarian nonprofit whose mission is to “end hunger and poverty while caring for the Earth.” In this study, we assessed the impact of Heifer International’s Values-Based Holistic Community Development approach on beneficiaries’ interpersonal communication competency and positive communication behaviors. The article offers a cross-sectional study of 815 women in Bihar India across four-time periods: baseline, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months. Compared to baseline, participants reported higher levels of positive communication behaviors and interpersonal communication competence across 6, 12, and 24 months. Implications of these findings for future research are offered.

The effects of instructor clarity and non-verbal immediacy on Chinese and Iranian EFL students’ affective learning: The mediating role of instructor understanding

Drawing on the rhetorical/relational goal theory, this study examined the role of instructor clarity and non-verbal immediacy in affective learning through the mediation of instructor understanding. Data were gathered through close-ended questionnaires from 756 Chinese and 715 Iranian English as a foreign language (EFL) students, the factor structure and cross-cultural validity of which were supported via confirmatory factor analysis and testing measurement invariance, respectively. Path analysis results indicated that clarity and non-verbal immediacy positively predicted instructor understanding and affective learning; instructor understanding positively predicted affective learning; and understanding was a significant positive mediator in the relationship of non-verbal immediacy and clarity with affective learning. Except for the positive association of non-verbal immediacy with understanding which was significantly higher for the Iranian group, no significant difference was found between the Chinese and Iranian groups in all other associations, providing empirical support for the role of EFL teachers’ positive interpersonal communication behaviors in EFL students’ affective learning, irrespective of the cultural context.

Toward the Role of Teacher Caring and Teacher-Student Rapport in Predicting English as a Foreign Language Learners' Willingness to Communicate in Second Language.

Following the advent of positive psychology (PP), positive communication behaviors have been studied as significant predictors of language learners’ willingness to communicate in second language (L2WTC). Yet, the role of two important communication behaviors, namely teacher caring and teacher-student rapport, in predicting EFL learners’ L2WTC has remained elusive. To address this gap, this investigation assessed the impact of teacher caring and teacher-student rapport on Chinese EFL learners’ L2WTC. To do so, 4392 Chinese EFL learners were invited to answer three reliable questionnaires. Performing Spearman correlation analysis, favorable relationships were found among the variables. Multiple regression analysis was also conducted to inspect the potential of teacher caring and teacher-student rapport in predicting Chinese EFL learners’ L2WTC. The outcomes of multiple regression analysis indicated that Chinese EFL learners’ L2WTC can be substantially predicted by teacher caring behaviors and teacher-student rapport. The implications and limitations of the findings are also discussed.

Exploring the predictive role of teacher immediacy and stroke behaviors in English as a foreign language university students’ academic burnout

To expand the literature on the rather new concept of student burnout, the present study examined the influence of teacher immediacy and stroke variables on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students’ experience of burnout. To fulfill this aim, a group of 631 undergraduate EFL students from various universities in Iran answered questionnaires including the Immediacy Behavior Scale, the Student Stroke Scale, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey. The results of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of immediacy and burnout scales demonstrated the validity of the two scales in the Iranian EFL context. Subsequently, Pearson multiple correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to analyze the data. It was found that student burnout subscales negatively and significantly correlated with teacher immediacy and stroke subscales. Moreover, the results indicated that teacher immediacy and stroke variables, in combination with their subscales, could predict student burnout. On the whole, it can be concluded that teacher immediacy and stroke concepts, characterized as positive teacher interpersonal communication behaviors enhancing rapport and positive interaction between the teacher and students in EFL contexts, are potential preventers of negative student-related outcomes such as burnout.

Online Communication Behaviors in Covid-19 Pandemic: Exploring the Influence of Internal Public Relations Practices and Employee Organization Relationships

Health organizations are increasingly looking for effective strategies for interaction and for maintaining long-term and mutually beneficial relationships with their employees. The growth of digital environments in particular, during Covid-19 Pandemic has offered a fresh avenue for employees to communicate with external publics through social media in crisis. During Covid 
 19 Pandemic, major healthcare sectors have been deeply impacted, nurses in Jordanian hospitals are suffering from a great challenge from their top management due to weak transparent communication and during a crisis, many reports nurses indicate that their organizations or leaders do not promote communication or the sharing of information and ideas. This represents the problem in which nurses do not have faith in the tolerance or benevolence of their managers. Jordanian hospitals reputation is increasingly questioned during the COVID-19 crisis (World Health Organization, 2020). This crisis involving Jordanian hospitals has resulted in declining nurses trust in the health care sector and their nurses more adversaries by sharing negative information about their hospitals on social media. ultimately turned into emergence of crisis communication in the healthcare sector and the decline of nurses’ support for their management. If the current trend persists, may likely lead to an unfavorable reputation for future of health care sector in Jordan. Taking this into consideration, the current paper expects to further explore and comprehend, employee's online communication behaviors during Covid-19 Pandemic in Jordanian public hospitals. This conceptual paper debates the antecedents that contribute across Jordanian nurses' motivation in online communication behaviors based on a comprehensive literature review. In particular, the paper elaborates on the proposed relationships between transparent communication, symmetrical communication employee organization relationships, and online communication behaviors. Based on the extended discussions of the proposed relationships, the paper also provides an effective framework for future public relations scholarship of understanding employees’ communication behaviors in online sitting. Therefore, identifying antecedents of employee communication behaviors is a very pertinent, timely initiative to restore employees trust and obtain their support during a crisis. This can be done by utilizing a specific mechanism to decrease threats in the public health sector and create positive results, such as positive employee communication behaviors.

Sitting at the Bedside: Patient and Internal Medicine Trainee Perceptions

BackgroundSitting at the bedside may strengthen physician–patient communication and improve patient experience. Yet despite the potential benefits of sitting, hospital physicians, including resident physicians, may not regularly sit down while speaking with patients.ObjectiveTo examine the frequency of sitting by internal medicine residents (including first post-graduate year [PGY-1] and supervising [PGY-2/3] residents) during inpatient encounters and to assess the association between patient-reported sitting at the bedside and patients’ perceptions of other physician communication behaviors. We also assessed residents’ attitudes towards sitting.DesignIn-person survey of patients and email survey of internal medicine residents between August 2019 and January 2020.ParticipantsPatients admitted to general medicine teaching services and internal medicine residents at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.Main MeasuresPatient-reported frequency of sitting at the bedside, patients’ perceptions of other communication behaviors (e.g., checking for understanding); residents’ attitudes regarding sitting.Key ResultsOf 334 eligible patients, 256 (76%) completed a survey. Among these 256 respondents, 198 (77%) and 166 (65%) reported recognizing the PGY-1 and PGY-2/3 on their care team, respectively, for a total of 364 completed surveys. On most surveys (203/364, 56%), patients responded that residents “never” sat. Frequent sitting at the bedside (“every single time” or “most of the time,” together 48/364, 13%) was correlated with other positive behaviors, including spending enough time at the bedside, checking for understanding, and not seeming to be in a rush (p < 0.01 for all). Of 151 residents, 77 (51%) completed the resident survey; 28 of the 77 (36%) reported sitting frequently. The most commonly cited barrier to sitting was that chairs were not available (38 respondents, 49%).ConclusionsPatients perceived that residents sit infrequently. However, sitting was associated with other positive communication behaviors; this is compatible with the hypothesis that promoting sitting could improve overall patient perceptions of provider communication.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11606-021-07231-4.

Does couple communication predict later relationship quality and dissolution? A meta‐analysis

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the overall effect between positive and negative communication behaviors and later relationship quality and dissolution.BackgroundBehavioral models of relationship development argue that the quality of couples' communication is key to understanding later relational outcomes. However, longitudinal studies have yielded inconsistent associations between communication behaviors and subsequent relationship functioning, leaving questions about the robustness of these effects.MethodTo explore these potential associations, we conducted a meta‐analysis of 64 dyadic studies and 1784 parameter estimates to generate a weighted average effect of positive and negative communication behaviors predicting later relationship quality and dissolution. We conducted multiple‐regression moderation analyses to identify key study‐level moderators.ResultsPositive (rwithin‐partner = .15, p &lt; .001; rcross‐partner = .09, p = .017) and negative (rwithin‐partner = −.17, p &lt; .001; rcross‐partner = −.16, p &lt; .001) communication behaviors had a small and significant effect on later relationship quality. Positive communication behaviors had a small but not statistically significant effect on relationship dissolution (d = 0.24, p = .105), whereas negative communication behaviors had a small‐to‐moderate statistically significant effect on relationship dissolution (d = −0.41, p &lt; .001). Few study‐level characteristics consistently moderated these associations.ConclusionsThis meta‐analysis indicates that couples' positive and negative communication behaviors are reliably associated with their later relationship quality, and couples' negative communication is associated with later dissolution. However, these effects are small, suggesting single, early assessments of positive and negative communication behaviors may be only modestly predictive of later relationship functioning. Greater attention to other factors that interact with communication to predict couples' outcomes over time is needed.

Examining the Role of Teachers' Stroking Behaviors in EFL Learners' Active/Passive Motivation and Teacher Success.

Due to the important role that teachers’ professional success plays in the effectiveness of their students and the education system in which they are involved, the present study investigated whether teacher stroke can predict teacher success through the mediation of students’ active and passive motivation. For this aim, a group of 437 Iranian university English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students were targeted to respond to the teacher success, teacher stroke, and student motivation questionnaires. The main results of the study, obtained through running correlation and structural equation modeling (SEM), were first, while positive stroke showed a positive correlation with teacher success, it did not directly predict success; yet mediated by active motivation, it was a positive predictor of success; second, while teacher success had no significant relationship with total motivation, it was positively correlated with active and passive motivation, separately; third, in terms of gender differences, for the female participants, stroke, mediated by active motivation, was a better predictor of teacher success; fourth, high scores in positive, verbal, and conditional stroke were in association with high scores in active motivation, which significantly predicted teacher success. Based on the results, it can be concluded that teacher stroke, as an instance of positive teacher interpersonal communication behaviors, increases students’ active motivation for foreign language learning, which in turn results in their higher perceptions of English teachers’ professional success.

A Conceptual Review of Positive Teacher Interpersonal Communication Behaviors in the Instructional Context

Following the recent special issue in Frontiers in Psychology, entitled “The Role of Teacher Interpersonal Variables in Students’ Academic Engagement, Success, and Motivation,” calling educational researchers worldwide to examine different teacher interpersonal communication behaviors that contribute to student-related academic outcomes, this conceptual review article is written to familiarize educational researchers, teachers, and students with main concepts in instructional communication and their role as the main pillar of successful teaching and learning processes. To this aim, by drawing on the positive psychology movement and the rhetorical and relational goal theory in instructional communication, we argue that positive teacher interpersonal communication behaviors are facilitators of a wide range of desirable student-related academic outcomes. Then, to support our argument, we provide empirical evidence. In doing so, we introduce and define seven instances of positive teacher interpersonal communication behaviors, namely teacher care, clarity, credibility, rapport with students, stroke, immediacy, and confirmation, and expound how they positively predict academic outcomes such as motivation, learning, engagement, involvement, class attendance, willingness to communicate, performance, and success in students. Subsequently, we highlight the critical role of teacher interpersonal variables in the foreign/second language classroom context. Next, we suggest some pedagogical implications with the potential to enlighten the practice of key educational stakeholders (i.e., teachers, students, teacher educators, materials developers, administrators, and teacher recruiters). At the end, the limitations in this line of research are identified, and avenues for future research on teacher interpersonal communication in both general education and language education domains are put forward for interested researchers.

Megaphoning effects of skepticism, cynicism, and situational motivation on an environmental CSR activity

The purpose of this study was to examine how individuals’ skepticism and cynicism about an environmental corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity influence their positive and negative communication behaviors toward a corporation (megaphoning effects). The findings demonstrated the important mediating role of situational motivation in problem solving on a given environmental issue between skepticism/cynicism and megaphoning effects. Using a nationwide survey of 504 participants living in the United States, this study found that skepticism and cynicism increased the negative megaphoning effect and decreased positive megaphoning behaviors. Furthermore, skepticism/cynicism and megaphoning behaviors were partially mediated by situational motivation in problem solving. In particular, skeptics who were motivated to solve an environmental issue were less likely to take and forward negative information about a corporation in an environmental CSR activity. This study provides new theoretical and practical insights into CSR strategies that address skepticism and cynicism in publics and their resulting communicative behaviors.

Dynamic association between perceived conflict and communication behavior in intimate relationships: The moderating effect of traumatic experience.

Many individuals may face traumatic events throughout their lives. For intimate relationship partners, early traumatic experiences can have a specific effect on their interpersonal communication. This study examined the moderating effect of traumatic experiences at early ages between perceived conflict and communication behavior among individuals in an intimate relationship. A total of 186 college students in intimate relationships reported their perceived conflict and communication behaviors with their partners three times a day for 14 days using ambulatory assessment. Findings from the multilevel model showed that a higher level of perceived conflict significantly positively associated with negative communication and negatively correlated with positive communication at the within-person level. Traumatic experiences at the between-person level moderated the within-person level associations between the dynamic perceived conflict and negative and positive communication behavior. However, the moderating effect of traumatic experiences on the association between perceived conflict and positive communication was contrary to the hypothesis. Daily perceived conflict was associated with daily communication behavior. For those with early traumatic experiences, the relationship between negative communication and conflict was stronger than for those who had not experienced such trauma.

Positive Changes in Certified Nursing Assistants' Communication Behaviors With People With Dementia: Feasibility of a Coaching Strategy.

Purpose This study investigated whether a 6-week coaching strategy resulted in positive changes in self-perceived knowledge and efficacy (SPKE) and positive communication behaviors in certified nursing assistants (CNAs) working with people with dementia in a skilled nursing facility. It also assessed the impact of the coaching strategy on negative responsive behaviors of people with dementia, such as yelling out, hitting, or spitting. Method Seven CNAs and seven people with dementia completed this study. Pretesting and posttesting were conducted for CNAs' SPKE. A single-subject, multiple-baseline design across five communication behaviors, the positive communication approach checklist, was completed to assess CNA communication behaviors after completion of a coaching strategy. Pretesting and posttesting of responsive behaviors of people with dementia were completed with the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. Results Six out of seven CNAs improved their SPKE from pre- to postcoaching; however, this difference was not statistically significant. Per the positive communication approach checklist, there was a statistically significant increase, from baseline to follow-up, in CNA positive communication behaviors when interacting with people with dementia. The frequency of overall responsive behaviors of people with dementia significantly decreased from pre- to postcoaching, per the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. Conclusions There is preliminary evidence to support the feasibility of a coaching strategy for the implementation of positive communication behaviors by CNAs when communicating with people with dementia. Negative responsive behaviors of people with dementia also decreased. Speech-language pathologists should consider acting as coaches to support positive communication for people with dementia. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.13564811.

Communication behaviors and marital functioning among Iranian newlyweds: the effects of the prevention and relationship education program

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether relationship education and changes in communication behaviors predicted marital functioning of newlyweds. One hundred and thirty-five couples (N = 270 participants) were randomly assigned to the intervention or the control group. Sixty-six couples participated in the PREP workshop. Couples in the intervention group reported higher marital functioning, more positive and fewer negative communication behaviors at the posttest, 3-month and 6-month follow-ups compared with the couples in the control group. Moreover, one’s own and partner’s positive and negative communication predicated the marital functioning of the couples in the intervention group. An increase in negative communication of a husband/ a wife on a particular time point was significantly associated with lower marital functioning of his wife/ her husband at the next time points. The findings shed light on the possible beneficial effects of communication behaviors on the newlyweds’ marital functioning in Iran.

Marital Conflict in the Context of Novel Stress: Associations with Physiological Stress Functioning

ObjectivesThe goal of this study was to investigate associations of the positivity and negativity of couple communication behaviors during a novel stressor, representative of dyadic coping, with diurnal cortisol patterns, an indication of stress physiological functioning.BackgroundPrevious research suggests that less positive and more negative couple interactions about reoccurring relationship issues are stressful and, as a result, are associated with physiological stress dysregulation. Past research has also indicated that behaviors during novel, as opposed to reoccurring, stressors are uniquely predictive of couple outcomes because behaviors during novel stressors are indicative of patterns of dyadic coping. However, there is not yet evidence linking couple behaviors in response to novel stressors to physiological stress functioning.MethodsSixty‐one (N = 122 individuals) heterosexual couples completed a novel stress task, and recordings of their interactions were coded for negative and positive communication behaviors. Couples provided saliva samples at home for 2 days, which were assayed for diurnal cortisol concentrations.ResultsResults of linear regression and structural equation modeling analyses suggested that women's greater positive, in relation to negative, communication behavior during the novel stressor was associated with women's greater cortisol awakening levels and cortisol awakening responses. Men's greater positive behavior was associated with men's and women's greater cortisol awakening levels, that is, signs indicating healthy physiological functioning.ConclusionCouples' dyadic coping has implications for the functioning of stress systems.ImplicationsSpecifically, couples' communication quality during novel stressors may protect from physiological stress dysregulation; the manner in which couples treat each other when facing novel stress can get “under the skin.”

Organizational resilience and employee work-role performance after a crisis situation: exploring the effects of organizational resilience on internal crisis communication

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to explore the positive outcomes of organizational resilience to see how resilient employees can support an organization by adapting to and initiating changes during the recovery process following a crisis. This study focuses on organizational resilience generated by employees, as a resilient system, through their psychological ability and positive communication behaviors. Resilient employees can help their organization bounce back to normal functioning following a crisis. A nationwide survey (N = 830) was conducted among full-time employees in the U.S. to examine the positive effect of organizational resilience on employee work-role performance. The results indicate that organizational resilience was positively and significantly associated with: employees’ intentions for proficiency, adaptivity and proactivity of organizational members, thus contributing to organizational effectiveness after a crisis situation.

Crisis perceptions, relationship, and communicative behaviors of employees: Internal public segmentation approach

This study examines when and why employees engage in external communicative behaviors during the periods of a corporate crisis. Combining a cross-situational factor (i.e., pre-crisis relationship quality) and a situational factor (i.e., crisis-specific perceptions), this study segments internal publics to understand employees’ motivations of becoming advocates for or adversaries of their organization. The results of an online survey demonstrated that employees’ pre-crisis relationship to their organization plays a critical role in encouraging them to advocate for their company; meanwhile, their crisis-perception—whether they feel fewer constraints in solving a crisis—is more likely to make them share negative information externally. Segmented groups of employees with high levels of both relationship and activeness are most likely to engage in both positive and negative external communication behaviors. Theoretical and practical implications for public relations and internal crisis communication are suggested.

Understanding the impacts of issue types and employee–organization relationships on employees’ problem perceptions and communicative behaviors

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of different types of corporate issues and employee–organization relationships (EORs) on employees’ perceptions of the issues and on their communicative actions. Specifically, this study investigates how employees who have experienced an internal or an external issue within their organizations differently perceive the organizational issue and engage in positive and/or negative communicative behaviors.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted with 363 full-time employees in large-sized companies in the USA who have experienced any internal or external issues within the past six months.FindingsEmployees are more cognitively aware of and feel more involved and less constrained in solving an internal company issue than an external one. Experiencing internal issues has led employees to share negative information about their organization externally. The quality of EORs pre-issue significantly increases employees’ involvement and positive communication behavior and decreases constraint levels and negative communication behaviors regarding an issue.Practical implicationsCorporate communication and public relations practitioners should incorporate strategic internal communication strategies to preemptively manage internal issues and to avoid them from evolving into internal crises.Originality/valueThis study is among the first to distinguish internal and external issues perceived by internal stakeholders and to examine their impacts on employees’ issue-specific perceptions and communicative behaviors. This study also provides significant practical guidelines for corporate communication practitioners and leaders by explicating the strategic role of issue type and employee behaviors in issue management.