Laurel Klinger-Vartabedian’s research while affiliated with Wichita State University and other places

This study examines the extent to which perceived status differentials influence students' perceptions of the appropriateness of presenter self-disclosure. Students in basic speech communication courses listened to randomly divided audio presentations which were either male or female speakers engaged in high or low disclosure. The presenter was identified as an undergraduate major or a professor. The findings reinforced the notion that there is a relationship between status and self-disclosure, although the unique dynamics of the classroom seem to complicate the relationship. Year in school and gender of the presenter also influence perceptions of the appropriateness of using self-disclosing stories as classroom illustrations.

Analysis of 1968 mortality data and comparable 1970 census data for women showed that women married to younger men tended to live longer than expected, while women married to older men tended to die sooner than expected. Representing fluctuation from the base rate of 100, the summary SMR (standard mortality ratio) for women with spouses 4 years older to 14 years younger was 84, while the average SMR for women with spouses up to 14 years older was 125. Thus the mortality risk associated with marriage to a younger man was clearly less than that associated with marriage to an older man. Two possible explanations are discussed: (a) mortality outcomes are predetermined by mate selection, or (b) psychological, social, and/or biological interaction within marriage influences longevity.

Given the need for services, various types of group work will continue to prosper as a setting in which older adults can enrich their lives. Simply having membership in a group and engaging in interaction with others improves self-concept and increases socialization outside the group. Research in this area includes few contributions from the field of communication. Consequently, this paper suggests the importance of assessing and applying communication constructs to current research on detection and prevention of social isolation through formal group interaction.