Last week on April 22nd, three of our Communication Studies majors presented at the College of Arts and Sciences Creative Activity and Research Day. Congratulations to Anne Weltner, Megan Busch, and Gloria Ruiz! You can find a description of the research they presented below (courtesy of the CARD Event Schedule). Congratulations on your achievements!
Anne presenting her research at CARD
Anne Weltner “Communication Evolution between Past Verbally Abusive Relationships to Current Romantic Relationships” The purpose of this qualitative research study was to conduct six interviews with participants who had previously been in a verbally abusive relationship and are presently in a romantic relationship. My research question was, “how do people in past verbally abusive relationships communicate with their present partner? Through the use of an interpretive lens, I asked questions such as, “How well did you know your partner that was verbally abusive?,” “How do you and your present partner express love?,” and” “Ideally what is your conception of an ideal romantic relationship in terms of communication?”
The interviews used a semistructured format, constant comparison, coding and thematic analysis. The four themes included: Verbal Abuse as a Form of Communication; Insights After the Abuse; Comparing Romantic Relationships; and, Current Romantic Relationship Maintenance. In the findings, the participants expressed the importance of open communication, compromise, and stressed the need and desire to move forward and learn from their past experiences.
Nice CARD poster Megan!
Megan Busch “The Complex Relationship Between College-Aged Youngest Siblings and Their Older Siblings” Extensive research has been conducted on the sibling relationship and the complex dynamics that make them up. However, little research has been done on adult siblings and how their relationship with their siblings has changed over the course of their lives. Thus, the purpose of this study is to describe the experiences of youngest siblings, specifically college-aged siblings, and how their relationship with their older siblings has changed over time.
I interviewed six college students between the ages of 19-20 and each participant had at least two older siblings. Overall results indicated that age of the siblings have an impact on sibling closeness and on how the youngest sibling is treated by their older siblings. The research also indicated that youngest siblings valued support from their older siblings and that each participant believed the sibling relationship to be unique and important.
Gloria Ruiz “Parental Mental Illness: The effects of it on the Children Later on in Life” Although mental illness continues to be at the forefront of many political and social debates there is still a limited amount of research conducted on mental illness and its affects on family. This study sought to fill those gaps by asking: What effects does parental mental illness have on affected children later on in life, if any at all? Interviews were conducted with six women one on one in a narrative-style so that participants felt comfortable enough to share their experiences with parental mental illness. Hearing each individual’s narrative allowed for a greater appreciation for their often unheard stories.
The lived experiences of these women were then compiled and the results found that affected children were fearful of vulnerability in relationships, conflict avoidant when discussing a conflict with a friend or significant other, and that speaking about their mentally ill parent was a very emotionally triggering experience for them.This information can help affected children and others around them communicate effectively. This can also help on a broader societal level with spreading awareness of parental mental illness and the affects it has not only on the mentally ill person but their children as well.
