Event Title
Expectations about Disclosure: Does Gender Moderate the Relationship between Expectations and Co-Rumination
Faculty Sponsor
Tanya Tompkins
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Date
5-11-2012 3:00 PM
End Date
5-11-2012 4:30 PM
Subject Area
Psychology (general)
Description
Self-disclosure has been identified as an important factor in establishing intimate relationships, and disclosing problems can contribute to emotional and physical health (Radmacher & Azmitia, 2006). Research suggests that females disclose more to friends than do males (Rose & Rudolph, 2006) and may be at risk for maladjustment if excessively problem-focused (Rose et al., 2007). It remains to be seen whether relational (e.g., not wanting to elicit criticism) and/or independence (e.g., wanting to solve problems on their own) concerns partially explain gender difference in self-disclosure and/or co-rumination. Undergraduate men (n=43) and women (n=75) provided data regarding their expectations about self-disclosure, tendencies to co-ruminate, and willingness to disclose to same-sex, close friends about general issues and emotions.
Men reported similar levels of general self-disclosure, but lower levels of emotional self-disclosure and co-rumination. Men also reported greater independence concerns surrounding disclosure, but similar levels of relational concerns. However, neither relational nor independence concerns mediated the relationship between gender and disclosure or co-rumination.
Relational and reliance concerns were negatively associated with general self-disclosure and disclosure about negative emotions; reliance concerns were also negatively associated with disclosure about happy emotions. However, these relationship patterns varied by gender, with weaker relationships for men and relatively stronger ones for women.
Although gender differences were not generally found for general self-disclosure or outcome expectations, results are consistent with recent research (Rose et al., in press) suggesting few differences in negative expectations about self-disclosure. Future research should further explore factors influencing disclosure processes (e.g., relationship and stressor types).
Recommended Citation
Elliott, Allison and Lucas, Jessica C., "Expectations about Disclosure: Does Gender Moderate the Relationship between Expectations and Co-Rumination" (2012). Science and Social Sciences. Event. Submission 11.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/studsymp_sci/2012/all/11
Expectations about Disclosure: Does Gender Moderate the Relationship between Expectations and Co-Rumination
Jereld R. Nicholson Library
Self-disclosure has been identified as an important factor in establishing intimate relationships, and disclosing problems can contribute to emotional and physical health (Radmacher & Azmitia, 2006). Research suggests that females disclose more to friends than do males (Rose & Rudolph, 2006) and may be at risk for maladjustment if excessively problem-focused (Rose et al., 2007). It remains to be seen whether relational (e.g., not wanting to elicit criticism) and/or independence (e.g., wanting to solve problems on their own) concerns partially explain gender difference in self-disclosure and/or co-rumination. Undergraduate men (n=43) and women (n=75) provided data regarding their expectations about self-disclosure, tendencies to co-ruminate, and willingness to disclose to same-sex, close friends about general issues and emotions.
Men reported similar levels of general self-disclosure, but lower levels of emotional self-disclosure and co-rumination. Men also reported greater independence concerns surrounding disclosure, but similar levels of relational concerns. However, neither relational nor independence concerns mediated the relationship between gender and disclosure or co-rumination.
Relational and reliance concerns were negatively associated with general self-disclosure and disclosure about negative emotions; reliance concerns were also negatively associated with disclosure about happy emotions. However, these relationship patterns varied by gender, with weaker relationships for men and relatively stronger ones for women.
Although gender differences were not generally found for general self-disclosure or outcome expectations, results are consistent with recent research (Rose et al., in press) suggesting few differences in negative expectations about self-disclosure. Future research should further explore factors influencing disclosure processes (e.g., relationship and stressor types).