Kevin B Wright

Professor

Health communication, social media and interpersonal relationships, life span communication, and interpersonal issues in health communication

Dr. Wright received his Ph.D. from the University of Oklahoma. He has focused much of his research on social support processes and health outcomes in both face-to-face and computer-mediated contexts. He is the author of five books, including Health Communication in the 21^st Century and Computer-Mediated Communication in Personal Relationships. He has published over 85 articles and book chapters, and his research appears in numerous journals such as Communication Monographs, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Journal of Communication, Health Communication, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Journal of Personal and Social Relationships, Communication Quarterly, Communication Studies, and several other publications. Dr. Wright served from 2007 to 2010 as editor of the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication published by the International Communication Association. He also serves on numerous editorial boards of various communication journals and is a frequent presenter at regional, national, and international communication conferences.

Selected Publications

Rising, C., Bol, N., Rains, S. R, Burke-Garcia, A., & Wright, K. B. (2017). Perceived stress in online prostate cancer community participants: Examining relationships with stigmatization, social support network preference, and social support seeking. Journal of Health Communication, 20 (6), 469-476.

van Ingen, E. J., Rains, S. A., & Wright, K. B. (2017). Does social network site use buffer against well-being loss when older adults face reduced functional ability? Computers in Human Behavior, 70, 168-177.

Wright, K., Mazzone, R., Oh, H., Du, J., Smithson, A., Ryan, MacNeil, D., Ryan, D., et al. (2016). The influence of U.S. chain restaurant food consumption and obesity in China and South Korea: An ecological perspective of food consumption, self-efficacy in weight management, willingness to communicate about weight/diet, and depression. Health Communication, 31, 1356-1366.

van Ingen, E. J., & Wright, K. B. (2016). Predictors of mobilizing online coping versus offline coping resources after negative life events. Computers in Human Behavior, 59, 431-439.

Rains, S., Peterson, E., & Wright, K. B. (2015). Communicating social support in computer mediated contexts (CMC): A meta-analytic review of content analyses examining support messages shared online. Communication Monographs, 82, 403-430.

Mason, A., & Wright, K. B. (2015). The lifecycle of a virus: The infectious disease narrative of NDM-1. Journal of Health Communication, 20, 43-50.

LeRouge, C., Van Slyke, C., Seale, D., & Wright, K. (2014). Baby boomers’ adoption of consumer health technologies: Survey on readiness and barriers. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 16, e.200. (Impact Factor 4.7)

Wright, K., Abdenschein, B., Wombacher, K., O’Connor, M., Hoffman, M., Krull, C., Dempsey, M., Dewes, A. (2014). Work-related communication technology use outside of regular work hours and work life conflict: The influence of communication technologies on perceived work life conflict, burnout, job satisfaction, and turnover intentions. Management Communication Quarterly, 28, 507-530. (Impact Factor 1.44)

Lee, H., Wright, K. B., Wombacher, K., & O’Connor, M. (2014). Framing medical tourism: Assessment of the procedures, appeals, risks, and interactivity in medical tourism websites. Health Communication, 7, 637-645.

Rozzell, B., Piercy, C., Carr, C., King, S., Lane, B., Tornes, M., Johnson, A., & Wright, K. (2014). Notification pending: Online social support from close and nonclose relational ties via Facebook. Computers in Human Behavior, 38, 272-280.

Nicotera, A. M., Mahon, M. M., & Wright, K. B. (2014). Communication that builds teams: Assessing a nursing conflict intervention. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 38, 248-260.

Wright, K. B., & Rains, S. (2013). Weak tie support preference and preferred coping style as predictors of perceived credibility within health-related computer-mediated support groups. Health Communication, 29, 281-287.

Wright, K. B., King, S., & Rosenberg, J. (2013). Functions of social support and self-verification in association with loneliness, depression, and stress. Journal of Health Communication, 19, 82-89.

Wright, K. B., & Rains, S. (2013). Weak-tie support network preference, stigma, and health outcomes in computer-mediated support groups. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 41, 309-324.

Jensen, M., Averbeck, J., Zhang, Z., & Wright, K. B. (2013). Credibility of anonymous online product reviews: A language expectancy perspective. Journal of Management Information Systems, 30, 307-338.

Wright, K. B., Rosenberg, J., Egbert, N., Ploeger, N., Bernard, D. R., & King, S. (2013). Communication competence, social support, and depression among college students. A model of Facebook and face-to-face support network influence. Journal of Health Communication, 18, 41-57.

Expanded Publication List

Rains, S., & Wright, K. B. (2015). Social support and computer-mediated communication: A state-of-the-art review and agenda for future research. Communication Yearbook 40, 175-211.

Wright, K. B. (2012). An examination of similarity, network convergence, and availability of emotional support as predictors of strong-tie/weak-tie support network preference on Facebook. Southern Communication Journal, 77, 1-14.

Wright, K. B. (2012). Emotional support and perceived stress among college students using Facebook.com: An exploration of the relationship between source perceptions and emotional support. Communication Research Reports, 29, 1-10.

Craig, E. A., & Wright, K. B. (2012). Computer-mediated relational development and maintenance on Facebook. Communication Research Reports, 29, 119-129.

Mason, A., Wright, K. B., & Bogard, J. (2011). Assessing cultural representations of physician and patient imagery in medical tourism websites. Journal of Intercultural Communication, 25, Available: http://www.immi.se/intercultural/

Wright, K. B. (2011). A communication competence approach to healthcare worker conflict, job stress, job burnout, and job satisfaction. Journal for Healthcare Quality, 33, 7-14.

Mason, A., & Wright, K. B. (2011). Framing medical tourism: An examination of appeal, risk, convalescence, accreditation, and interactivity in medical tourism websites. Journal of Health Communication, 16, 163-177.

Wright, K. B., & Miller, C. H. (2010). A measure of weak tie/strong tie support network preference. Communication Monographs, 77, 502-520.

Wright, K. B., Rains, S., & Banas, J. (2010) Weak tie support network preference and perceived life stress among participants in health-related, computer-mediated support groups. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 15, 606-624.

Wright, K. B., Banas, J., Bessarabova, E., & Bernard, D. R. (2010). A communication competence approach to examining healthcare worker social support, stress, and job burnout. Health Communication, 25, 375-382.

Moore, S. C., Wright, K. B., & Bernard, D. R. (2009). Influences on health delivery system satisfaction: A partial test of the ecological model. Health Communication, 24, 1-10.

Wright, K. B., & Frey, L. R. (2008). Communication and care in an acute cancer center: The effects of patients' willingness to communicate about health, healthcare environment perceptions, and health status on information seeking, participation in care practices, and satisfaction. Health Communication, 23, 369-379.

Johnson, A. J., Wright, K. B., Craig, E. A., Gilchrist, E. S., Lane, L. T., & Haigh, M. M. (2008). A model for predicting stress levels and marital satisfaction for stepmothers utilizing a stress and coping approach. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 25, 119-142.

Query, J. L., Jr., Wright, K. B., Bylund, C., & Mattson, M. (2007). Health communication instruction: Towards identifying common learning goals, course content, and pedagogical strategies to guide curricular development. Health Communication, 21, 1-13.

Wright, K. B., Frey, L. R., & Sopory, P. (2007). Willingness to communicate about health as an underlying trait of patient self-advocacy: The development of the willingness to communicate about health (WTCH) measure. Communication Studies, 58, 1-17.

Wright, K. B., Bylund, C., Ware, J., Parker, P., Query, J. L., Jr., & Baile, W. (2006). Medical student attitudes toward communication skills training and knowledge of appropriate provider-patient communication: A comparison of first-year and fourth-year medical students. Medical Education Online, 11, Available: http: www.med-ed-online.org

Wright, K. B., & Patterson, B. R. (2006). Socioemotional selectivity theory and the macrodynamics of friendship: The role of friendship style and communication in friendship across the life-span. Communication Research Reports, 23, 163-170.

Wright, K. B. (2005). Researching Internet-based populations: Advantages and disadvantages of on-line survey research, on-line questionnaire authoring software packages, and web survey services. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 10 (3), article 11. Available: http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol10/issue3/wright.html

Wright, K. B. (2004). On-line relational maintenance strategies and perceptions of partners within exclusively Internet-based and primarily Internet-based relationships. Communication Studies, 55, 418-432.

Wright, K. B., & Bell, S. B. (2003). Health-related support groups on the Internet: Linking empirical findings to social support and computer-mediated communication theory. Journal of Health Psychology, 8, 37-52.

Query, J. L., Jr., & Wright, K. B. (2003). Assessing communication competence in an on-line study: Towards informing subsequent interventions among older adults with cancer, their lay caregivers, and peers. Health Communication, 15, 205-219.

Wright, K. B. (2002). Social support within an on-line cancer community: An assessment of emotional support, perceptions of advantages and disadvantages, and motives for using the community. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 30, 195-209.

Campbell, K., & Wright, K. B. (2002). On-line support groups: An investigation of relationships among source credibility, dimensions of relational communication, and perceptions of emotional support. Communication Research Reports, 19, 183-193.

Wright, K. B. (2002). Motives for communication within on-line support groups and antecedents for interpersonal use. Communication Research Reports, 19, 89-98.

Wright, K. B. (2000). Perceptions of on-line support providers: An examination of perceived homophily, source credibility, communication and social support within on-line support groups. Communication Quarterly, 48, 44-59.

Wright, K. B. (2000). The communication of social support within an on-line community for older adults: A qualitative analysis of the SeniorNet community. Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, 1, 33-43.

Wright, K. B. (2000). Social support satisfaction, on-line communication apprehension, and perceived life stress within computer-mediated support groups. Communication Research Reports, 17, 139-147.

Wright, K. B. (2000). Computer-mediated social support, older adults, and coping. Journal of Communication, 50, 100-118.

Wright, K. B. (1999). Computer-mediated support groups: An examination of relationships among social support, perceived stress, and coping strategies. Communication Quarterly, 47, 402-414.

Wright, K. B. (1997). Shared ideology in Alcoholics Anonymous: A grounded theory approach. Journal of Health Communication, 2, 83-99.

Grants and Fellowships

Title: Using targeted social media to communicate culturally sensitive and interactive environmental risk information about breast cancer to mothers

Role: Principal Investigator: Kevin B. Wright, Ph.D.

$344,901

Funding Period: 6/01/17 – 6/01/19

Funding Agency: National Institutes of Health (NIH)

NIH Program: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

Award #1R21ES027417-01

Title: Collaborative research: Modeling the efficacy of inventory for extreme event preparedness decision making in interdependent systems.

Role: Co-Principal Investigator

Principal Investigator: Kash Barker, Ph.D.

Funding Period: 8/15/09 - 8/15/11

$239,225

Funding Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF Program: Infrastructure Management and Extreme Events

Award #0927299

Courses Taught

COMM 650 Graduate Research Methods

COMM 304 Health Communication

COMM 301 Interpersonal Communication

COMM 634 Interpersonal Communication Theory

COMM 705 Intercultural Health and Risk Communication

COMM 820 Health Communication Campaigns

Education

Ph.D. (1999). University of Oklahoma

M.A. (1995). California State University Chico

B.A. (1992). San Francisco State University

Recent Presentations

Wright, K. B., & van Ingen, E. J. (2016). Predictors of the quality of relationships in health-related online support groups: A study of attitudinal similarity, degree of online participation, and personal characteristics. Paper presented at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Rising, C., Wright, K. B., Bol, N., Burke-Garcia, A., & Rains, S. R. (2016). Perceived stress in online prostate cancer community participants: Examining relationships with stigmatization, weak-tie support preference, and social support seeking. Paper presented at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Philadelphia, PA.

Rising, C., Fisher, C. L., Roccotagliata, T., & Wright, K. B. (2016). “My prostate cancer has affected my family in many ways”: Men’s perspectives about the effect of prostate cancer on family life. Paper presented at the annual International Psycho Oncology Congress (IPOS) Conference, Dublin, Ireland.

Wright, K. B. (2016). Social support and coping with stress in the urban environment: The role of new communication technologies. Paper presented at the annual International Communication Association Convention, Fukuoka, Japan.

Rising, C., Wright, K. B., Bol, N., & Burke-Garcia, A. (2016). Prostate cancer-related stigma, age, weak-tie support preference, online support, and health outcomes. Paper presented at the annual International Communication Association Convention, Fukuoka, Japan.

Wright, K. B. (2015). The influence of U.S. chain restaurant food consumption and obesity in China and South Korea: An ecological perspective of food consumptions, self-efficacy in weight management, willingness to communicate about weight/diet, and depression. Paper presented at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Las Vegas, NV.

Wright, K. B., & Nicotera, A. M. (2015). Conflict, social support and burnout/turnover among health care workers: A review of developments in organizational conflict theory and practice. Paper presented at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Las Vegas, NV.

Alpert, J. M., Desens, L., Kreps, G. L., & Wright, K. B. (2015). Measuring the clarity of an online health portal using the CDC’s Clear Communication Index. Paper presented at the annual National Communication Association Convention, Las Vegas, NV.

van Ingen, E. J., & Wright, K. B. (2015). Predictors of mobilizing online coping versus offline coping resources after negative life events. Paper presented at the annual International Communication Association Convention, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Dissertations Supervised

Camella J. Rising , Fathers’ and Sons’ Communication Behaviors in Response to Prostate Cancer and Familial Risk: Motivations, Challenges, and Approaches in the PSA Era (2018)

Amelia Burke-Garcia, Opinion Leaders for Health: Formative Research with Bloggers about Health Information Dissemination (2017)

Raphael Mazzone, Judging a Book by its Cover: Identity, Homeless, and the Public Library (2017)

Hyunkyung Oh, How Political Disagreement Leads To Participation: Comparing The First-Time Voters In The Case of 2014 Midterm (2015)