Erin K Ruppel
Biographic Data
| ID | 758890 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Erin K Ruppel |
| GIVEN NAMES | Erin K |
| FAMILY NAME | Ruppel |
| SIGNATURE | RUPPEL E K |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0832-9217 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 98 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 21 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 6 |
We’re Creating Our Own Chosen Family”
Social support among emerging adult friends
Building upon the emerging theory of support gaps, the present study explores dyadic associations of surpluses and deficits in various types of support with immediate and longitudinal relationship quality between friends. Emerging adult friends ( N = 212 dyads) completed an initial questionnaire reporting desired support, received support, and relationship quality pertaining to a friend, and a follow-up questionnaire one-month later reporting rel…
Computer-Mediated Communication and Well-Being in the Age of Social Media
The association between computer-mediated communication (CMC) and well-being is a complex, consequential, and hotly debated topic that has received significant attention from pundits, researchers, and the media. Conflicting research findings and fear over negative outcomes have spurred both moral panic and further research into these associations. To create a more comprehensive picture of trends, explanations, and future directions in this domain…
Direct and indirect associations among self-disclosure skills, social support, and psychosocial outcomes during the transition to college
The goal of current study was to explore direct and indirect associations between self-disclosure skills, social support, and psychosocial outcomes during the transition to college. Incoming college students in the U.S. completed online surveys throughout their first academic year. Multilevel mediation analyses revealed different associations among these variables (1) when considering different relational sources of support (family, friend, signi…
A Dyadic Analysis of Grandparent and Adult Grandchildren Solidarity and Topic Avoidance
The grandparent-adult grandchild relationship is integral to the health and preservation of the family. The intergenerational relationship makes several transformations as each party ages and experiences life transitions. This study used actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) to examine affectual and consensual solidarity and topic avoidance in the grandparent-adult grandchild dyad. The sample for this quantitative study included 62 grandpare…
Effects of mediated communication on conflict behavior, resolution, and affect in romantic couples
Mediated communication such as text messaging influences how romantic couples engage in and perceive conflict interactions, but the precise nature of these effects is unclear. We randomly assigned 43 romantic couples to engage in a conflict interaction either face-to-face ( n = 23 couples) or using a text-based messaging application ( n = 20 couples). Participants completed self-report measures of positive and negative conflict behaviors (e.g., h…
Attack of the green-eyed monster
Past research on jealousy and envy has focused primarily on dyadic interpersonal relationships; little is known about the perception and expression of such emotions within small groups. The expression of jealousy and envy can impact group dynamics, group outcomes, and interactions between group members. Our review examines literature on jealousy and envy within small groups, uncovering the primary focus of past research, identifying research gaps…
Social Compensation and Enhancement via Mediated Communication in the Transition to College
This study extends the frameworks of social compensation and enhancement to examine students' social competence, daily well-being, and daily mediated communication with a parent when transitioning to college. First-semester college students (N = 155) completed a measure of social competence and 3–10 daily surveys (M = 6.94; SD = 4.24) regarding communication with a parent, loneliness, and stress. Consistent with social compensation, for participa…
Channel complementarity and multiplexity in long-distance friends’ patterns of communication technology use
Understanding how people use communication technologies (CTs) in close relationships requires examining interdependencies in or patterns of CT use in those relationships. We combined channel complementarity theory and media multiplexity theory to investigate first-year college students’ ( N = 155) use of CTs (video chat, phone calls, and text messaging) in close, long-distance friendships over a 3- to 10-day period. Overall, CTs were used complem…
Moving Away and Reaching Out
In this study, we extended the research on students’ stress and psychosocial well-being during the transition to college to consider the potential moderating effect of their communication of relational maintenance with a parent. We found that as students’ (N = 155) daily stress increased, their daily loneliness and depression increased, and their daily happiness decreased. Moreover, we identified students’ daily communication of openness and assu…
Reflecting on Connecting
Self-disclosure is a key concept in computer-mediated communication (CMC) theory and research, but disagreement exists about the impact of CMC, relative to face-to-face (FtF) communication, on self-disclosure. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing self-disclosure in CMC and FtF communication to summarize and clarify existing research. We also examined potential moderators of this difference—measure of self-disclosure, study design (su…
An Exploratory Investigation of Communication Technologies to Alleviate Communicative Difficulties and Depression in Older Adults
This study provides preliminary evidence that older adults might use communication technologies such as e-mail in their close relationships to compensate for communicative difficulties. The text-based format of e-mail might also help older adults mitigate hearing impairments and associated depressive symptoms
The Affordance Utilization Model
This essay proposes an affordance utilization model (AUM) that aims to understand the role of relationship development in communication technology use. The AUM draws from research regarding (1) social penetration theory and (2) the communication technology affordances of asynchronicity (i.e., a time lag between when a message is constructed and received) and reduced cues (i.e., the lack of visual and/or vocal cues). It proposes that these afforda…
Use of communication technologies in romantic relationships
Self-disclosure is vital to the maintenance and development of personal relationships, but research regarding the use of communication technologies (CTs) for self-disclosure in relationships is mixed. This study extends previous research on the topic by examining associations between reduced-cue CT use, relationship development, and self-disclosure in specific conversations in proximal romantic relationships. Participants ( N = 64) reported on ea…
Complementary Channel Use and the Role of Social Competence
This study focused on channel complementarity among various interpersonal communication channels (face-to-face, telephone, e-mail, text messaging, and Facebook). We looked at daily channel use among 136 participants and demonstrated complementary channel use among most combinations of channels, excluding face-to-face. We also extended channel complementarity theory by examining social competence as a moderator of channel complementarity. Results …
Implementation of Tobacco Cessation Quitline Practices in the United States and Canada
Objectives. We examined relationships between implementation of tobacco quitline practices, levels of evidence of practices, and quitline reach and spending. Methods. In June and July 2009, a total of 176 quitline funders and providers in the United States and Canada completed a survey on quitline practices, in particular quitline-level implementation for the reported practices. From these data, we selected and categorized evidence-based and emer…
Information Sources and the Health Information-Seeking Process
Contemporary information seekers can acquire health information from an unprecedented variety of sources. The reported study applied and extended channel complementarity theory to explain the use of multiple information sources in the health-information-seeking process. Channel complementarity was extended to consider four characteristics (i.e., access to medical expertise, tailorability, anonymity, and convenience) of health-information sources.…
Mapping Tobacco Quitlines in North America
Objectives. This study was designed to better understand how the network of quitlines in the North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) interact and share new knowledge on quitline practices. Methods. Network relationship data were collected from all 63 publicly funded quitlines in North America, including information sharing, partner trust, and reputation. Results. There was a strong tendency for US and Canadian quitlines to seek information from…
Relational sacrifices in romantic relationships
Using interdependence and attachment theories, we examined the influence of attachment orientations on the association between relational sacrifices and relationship satisfaction. Romantic partners ( N = 332) completed a one-time measure of attachment orientations and daily measures of relationship satisfaction and number and difficulty of relational sacrifices over 4-10 days. Difficulty of own and partner's sacrifices was negatively associated w…
Evaluating Participation in Small Groups
This article examines if different conditions of stimulated recall influence perceptions of task-related competence in small discussion groups. Although the validity of simulated recall has been assessed in educational and interpersonal contexts, it is not clear how features of the method influence the measurement of perceptions at different levels of analysis. Participants worked on a task in groups and then viewed a videotape of the interaction…
The Process of Information Sharing in Small Groups
Members of small groups do not always mention available information, and this leads to inferior decision making. A local model of participation was applied to information sharing discussions to evaluate the extent to which task-relevant judgments are related to comments that contain unique (i.e., data that only one member knows) and shared (i.e., known to all members) information. In addition, the model was applied to only “incorrect” groups, one…
Relational sacrifices in romantic relationships
Using interdependence and attachment theories, we examined the influence of attachment orientations on the association between relational sacrifices and relationship satisfaction. Romantic partners ( N = 332) completed a one-time measure of attachment orientations and daily measures of relationship satisfaction and number and difficulty of relational sacrifices over 4-10 days. Difficulty of own and partner's sacrifices was negatively associated w…
Use of communication technologies in romantic relationships
Self-disclosure is vital to the maintenance and development of personal relationships, but research regarding the use of communication technologies (CTs) for self-disclosure in relationships is mixed. This study extends previous research on the topic by examining associations between reduced-cue CT use, relationship development, and self-disclosure in specific conversations in proximal romantic relationships. Participants ( N = 64) reported on ea…
Reflecting on Connecting
Self-disclosure is a key concept in computer-mediated communication (CMC) theory and research, but disagreement exists about the impact of CMC, relative to face-to-face (FtF) communication, on self-disclosure. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing self-disclosure in CMC and FtF communication to summarize and clarify existing research. We also examined potential moderators of this difference—measure of self-disclosure, study design (su…
Channel complementarity and multiplexity in long-distance friends’ patterns of communication technology use
Understanding how people use communication technologies (CTs) in close relationships requires examining interdependencies in or patterns of CT use in those relationships. We combined channel complementarity theory and media multiplexity theory to investigate first-year college students’ ( N = 155) use of CTs (video chat, phone calls, and text messaging) in close, long-distance friendships over a 3- to 10-day period. Overall, CTs were used complem…
Complementary Channel Use and the Role of Social Competence
This study focused on channel complementarity among various interpersonal communication channels (face-to-face, telephone, e-mail, text messaging, and Facebook). We looked at daily channel use among 136 participants and demonstrated complementary channel use among most combinations of channels, excluding face-to-face. We also extended channel complementarity theory by examining social competence as a moderator of channel complementarity. Results …
Information Sources and the Health Information-Seeking Process
Contemporary information seekers can acquire health information from an unprecedented variety of sources. The reported study applied and extended channel complementarity theory to explain the use of multiple information sources in the health-information-seeking process. Channel complementarity was extended to consider four characteristics (i.e., access to medical expertise, tailorability, anonymity, and convenience) of health-information sources.…
Direct and indirect associations among self-disclosure skills, social support, and psychosocial outcomes during the transition to college
The goal of current study was to explore direct and indirect associations between self-disclosure skills, social support, and psychosocial outcomes during the transition to college. Incoming college students in the U.S. completed online surveys throughout their first academic year. Multilevel mediation analyses revealed different associations among these variables (1) when considering different relational sources of support (family, friend, signi…
Effects of mediated communication on conflict behavior, resolution, and affect in romantic couples
Mediated communication such as text messaging influences how romantic couples engage in and perceive conflict interactions, but the precise nature of these effects is unclear. We randomly assigned 43 romantic couples to engage in a conflict interaction either face-to-face ( n = 23 couples) or using a text-based messaging application ( n = 20 couples). Participants completed self-report measures of positive and negative conflict behaviors (e.g., h…
Social Compensation and Enhancement via Mediated Communication in the Transition to College
This study extends the frameworks of social compensation and enhancement to examine students' social competence, daily well-being, and daily mediated communication with a parent when transitioning to college. First-semester college students (N = 155) completed a measure of social competence and 3–10 daily surveys (M = 6.94; SD = 4.24) regarding communication with a parent, loneliness, and stress. Consistent with social compensation, for participa…
Mapping Tobacco Quitlines in North America
Objectives. This study was designed to better understand how the network of quitlines in the North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) interact and share new knowledge on quitline practices. Methods. Network relationship data were collected from all 63 publicly funded quitlines in North America, including information sharing, partner trust, and reputation. Results. There was a strong tendency for US and Canadian quitlines to seek information from…
Moving Away and Reaching Out
In this study, we extended the research on students’ stress and psychosocial well-being during the transition to college to consider the potential moderating effect of their communication of relational maintenance with a parent. We found that as students’ (N = 155) daily stress increased, their daily loneliness and depression increased, and their daily happiness decreased. Moreover, we identified students’ daily communication of openness and assu…
The Affordance Utilization Model
This essay proposes an affordance utilization model (AUM) that aims to understand the role of relationship development in communication technology use. The AUM draws from research regarding (1) social penetration theory and (2) the communication technology affordances of asynchronicity (i.e., a time lag between when a message is constructed and received) and reduced cues (i.e., the lack of visual and/or vocal cues). It proposes that these afforda…
Social support among emerging adult friends
Building upon the emerging theory of support gaps, the present study explores dyadic associations of surpluses and deficits in various types of support with immediate and longitudinal relationship quality between friends. Emerging adult friends ( N = 212 dyads) completed an initial questionnaire reporting desired support, received support, and relationship quality pertaining to a friend, and a follow-up questionnaire one-month later reporting rel…
Implementation of Tobacco Cessation Quitline Practices in the United States and Canada
Objectives. We examined relationships between implementation of tobacco quitline practices, levels of evidence of practices, and quitline reach and spending. Methods. In June and July 2009, a total of 176 quitline funders and providers in the United States and Canada completed a survey on quitline practices, in particular quitline-level implementation for the reported practices. From these data, we selected and categorized evidence-based and emer…
The Process of Information Sharing in Small Groups
Members of small groups do not always mention available information, and this leads to inferior decision making. A local model of participation was applied to information sharing discussions to evaluate the extent to which task-relevant judgments are related to comments that contain unique (i.e., data that only one member knows) and shared (i.e., known to all members) information. In addition, the model was applied to only “incorrect” groups, one…
Evaluating Participation in Small Groups
This article examines if different conditions of stimulated recall influence perceptions of task-related competence in small discussion groups. Although the validity of simulated recall has been assessed in educational and interpersonal contexts, it is not clear how features of the method influence the measurement of perceptions at different levels of analysis. Participants worked on a task in groups and then viewed a videotape of the interaction…
Information Sources and the Health Information-Seeking Process
Contemporary information seekers can acquire health information from an unprecedented variety of sources. The reported study applied and extended channel complementarity theory to explain the use of multiple information sources in the health-information-seeking process. Channel complementarity was extended to consider four characteristics (i.e., access to medical expertise, tailorability, anonymity, and convenience) of health-information sources.…
Mapping Tobacco Quitlines in North America
Objectives. This study was designed to better understand how the network of quitlines in the North American Quitline Consortium (NAQC) interact and share new knowledge on quitline practices. Methods. Network relationship data were collected from all 63 publicly funded quitlines in North America, including information sharing, partner trust, and reputation. Results. There was a strong tendency for US and Canadian quitlines to seek information from…
Relational sacrifices in romantic relationships
Using interdependence and attachment theories, we examined the influence of attachment orientations on the association between relational sacrifices and relationship satisfaction. Romantic partners ( N = 332) completed a one-time measure of attachment orientations and daily measures of relationship satisfaction and number and difficulty of relational sacrifices over 4-10 days. Difficulty of own and partner's sacrifices was negatively associated w…
Complementary Channel Use and the Role of Social Competence
This study focused on channel complementarity among various interpersonal communication channels (face-to-face, telephone, e-mail, text messaging, and Facebook). We looked at daily channel use among 136 participants and demonstrated complementary channel use among most combinations of channels, excluding face-to-face. We also extended channel complementarity theory by examining social competence as a moderator of channel complementarity. Results …
Implementation of Tobacco Cessation Quitline Practices in the United States and Canada
Objectives. We examined relationships between implementation of tobacco quitline practices, levels of evidence of practices, and quitline reach and spending. Methods. In June and July 2009, a total of 176 quitline funders and providers in the United States and Canada completed a survey on quitline practices, in particular quitline-level implementation for the reported practices. From these data, we selected and categorized evidence-based and emer…
An Exploratory Investigation of Communication Technologies to Alleviate Communicative Difficulties and Depression in Older Adults
This study provides preliminary evidence that older adults might use communication technologies such as e-mail in their close relationships to compensate for communicative difficulties. The text-based format of e-mail might also help older adults mitigate hearing impairments and associated depressive symptoms
The Affordance Utilization Model
This essay proposes an affordance utilization model (AUM) that aims to understand the role of relationship development in communication technology use. The AUM draws from research regarding (1) social penetration theory and (2) the communication technology affordances of asynchronicity (i.e., a time lag between when a message is constructed and received) and reduced cues (i.e., the lack of visual and/or vocal cues). It proposes that these afforda…
Use of communication technologies in romantic relationships
Self-disclosure is vital to the maintenance and development of personal relationships, but research regarding the use of communication technologies (CTs) for self-disclosure in relationships is mixed. This study extends previous research on the topic by examining associations between reduced-cue CT use, relationship development, and self-disclosure in specific conversations in proximal romantic relationships. Participants ( N = 64) reported on ea…
Moving Away and Reaching Out
In this study, we extended the research on students’ stress and psychosocial well-being during the transition to college to consider the potential moderating effect of their communication of relational maintenance with a parent. We found that as students’ (N = 155) daily stress increased, their daily loneliness and depression increased, and their daily happiness decreased. Moreover, we identified students’ daily communication of openness and assu…
Reflecting on Connecting
Self-disclosure is a key concept in computer-mediated communication (CMC) theory and research, but disagreement exists about the impact of CMC, relative to face-to-face (FtF) communication, on self-disclosure. We conducted a meta-analysis of studies comparing self-disclosure in CMC and FtF communication to summarize and clarify existing research. We also examined potential moderators of this difference—measure of self-disclosure, study design (su…
Channel complementarity and multiplexity in long-distance friends’ patterns of communication technology use
Understanding how people use communication technologies (CTs) in close relationships requires examining interdependencies in or patterns of CT use in those relationships. We combined channel complementarity theory and media multiplexity theory to investigate first-year college students’ ( N = 155) use of CTs (video chat, phone calls, and text messaging) in close, long-distance friendships over a 3- to 10-day period. Overall, CTs were used complem…
Attack of the green-eyed monster
Past research on jealousy and envy has focused primarily on dyadic interpersonal relationships; little is known about the perception and expression of such emotions within small groups. The expression of jealousy and envy can impact group dynamics, group outcomes, and interactions between group members. Our review examines literature on jealousy and envy within small groups, uncovering the primary focus of past research, identifying research gaps…
Social Compensation and Enhancement via Mediated Communication in the Transition to College
This study extends the frameworks of social compensation and enhancement to examine students' social competence, daily well-being, and daily mediated communication with a parent when transitioning to college. First-semester college students (N = 155) completed a measure of social competence and 3–10 daily surveys (M = 6.94; SD = 4.24) regarding communication with a parent, loneliness, and stress. Consistent with social compensation, for participa…
A Dyadic Analysis of Grandparent and Adult Grandchildren Solidarity and Topic Avoidance
The grandparent-adult grandchild relationship is integral to the health and preservation of the family. The intergenerational relationship makes several transformations as each party ages and experiences life transitions. This study used actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) to examine affectual and consensual solidarity and topic avoidance in the grandparent-adult grandchild dyad. The sample for this quantitative study included 62 grandpare…
Effects of mediated communication on conflict behavior, resolution, and affect in romantic couples
Mediated communication such as text messaging influences how romantic couples engage in and perceive conflict interactions, but the precise nature of these effects is unclear. We randomly assigned 43 romantic couples to engage in a conflict interaction either face-to-face ( n = 23 couples) or using a text-based messaging application ( n = 20 couples). Participants completed self-report measures of positive and negative conflict behaviors (e.g., h…
Direct and indirect associations among self-disclosure skills, social support, and psychosocial outcomes during the transition to college
The goal of current study was to explore direct and indirect associations between self-disclosure skills, social support, and psychosocial outcomes during the transition to college. Incoming college students in the U.S. completed online surveys throughout their first academic year. Multilevel mediation analyses revealed different associations among these variables (1) when considering different relational sources of support (family, friend, signi…
Computer-Mediated Communication and Well-Being in the Age of Social Media
The association between computer-mediated communication (CMC) and well-being is a complex, consequential, and hotly debated topic that has received significant attention from pundits, researchers, and the media. Conflicting research findings and fear over negative outcomes have spurred both moral panic and further research into these associations. To create a more comprehensive picture of trends, explanations, and future directions in this domain…
We’re Creating Our Own Chosen Family”
Social support among emerging adult friends
Building upon the emerging theory of support gaps, the present study explores dyadic associations of surpluses and deficits in various types of support with immediate and longitudinal relationship quality between friends. Emerging adult friends ( N = 212 dyads) completed an initial questionnaire reporting desired support, received support, and relationship quality pertaining to a friend, and a follow-up questionnaire one-month later reporting rel…
Psychology (17 works) · Social Psychology (15 works) · Social Psychology (14 works) · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics (9 works) · Developmental psychology (8 works) · Impact of Technology on Adolescents (6 works) · Computer Science (5 works) · Competence (human resources (4 works) · Medicine (4 works) · Political science (4 works)