Theoretical Distinctions Between Emotion and Cognition Content in Supportive Messages

Examining Effects and Mediating Mechanisms

Datos Bibliográficos

ID17537017
AutoresA J Holmstrom (0000-0002-5054-735X, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA, autor de correspondencia), Junwen M Hu (0000-0001-9571-9947, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Samantha J Shebib (0000-0003-4066-3397, University of Alabama at Birmingham), Jong In Lim (0000-0001-8587-4847, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Yue Zhang (0000-0003-1198-882X, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Andrew Bredland (0000-0002-8509-9825, University of California, Santa Barbara), Allison P Mazur (0000-0001-5491-9192, Indiana University Bloomington), Adam J Mason (0000-0002-0703-5121, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Amanda Allard (0000-0002-1948-0724, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Josephine K Boumis (0000-0001-9702-8496, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, USA), Hailey Schulte (Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Ji Hyun Ha (0000-0001-8575-0529, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Brooke H Wolfe (0000-0002-8908-855X, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Megan Szczypka (Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Ping-Hsu Wu (Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Yidi Zhang (0000-0002-5921-0796, University of California, Santa Barbara), Xiaoran Cui (0009-0009-4009-4324, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA), Lu Zhang (0000-0002-8855-8492, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA)
Año2026
Fecha de publicación2026-04-29
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaCommunication Research (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0093-6502 • E-ISSN: 1552-3810
EditorialSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00936502261426538
OpenAlexW7160258039
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas47

What constitutes effective supportive message content is a topic of intense interdisciplinary scholarly interest and has palpable real-world implications for individuals’ well-being. Emotion and cognition content are two commonly theorized supportive message forms. Although both are theorized to operate through conversationally induced reappraisal, their relative effects, underlying mediating mechanisms, and boundary conditions for effectiveness are underexplored in experimental research. Three studies (Study 1: N = 852; Study 2: N = 343; Study 3: N = 512) compared the effects of emotion and cognition content, and one tested mediating mechanisms (Study 3). Situational esteem threat was manipulated to examine self-conscious emotion as a moderator. Cognition content was more effective than emotion content when esteem threat was high; differences narrowed when esteem threat was low. Differences were explained, in part, by reappraisal and interpersonal perceptions. Findings suggest message effects depend on degree of esteem threat, and content impacts outcomes via different routes

Cognition · Cognitive reappraisal · Content (measure theory) · Expressive Suppression · Interpersonal communication · Situational ethics · Social cognition · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Media Influence and Health