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 in 1999. His research has focuded on social support processes and health outcomes in both face-to-face and computer-mediated contexts, provider-patient interaction, new technologies and health, social support and health provider burnout, as well as other health communication topics. He is the author or coauthor of seven books, including Health Communication in the 21^st Century and Computer-Mediated Communication in Personal Relationships. He has published over 100 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 he has presented over 120 papers at regional, national, and international communication conferences.

Selected Publications

Fisher, C. L., Wright, K. B., Rising, C., Mullins, D., Afanaseva, D., Burke-Garcia, A. & Cai, X. (2019). Culturally appropriate breast cancer and environmental risk messages targeting racially and ethnically diverse mothers. Journal of Cancer Education, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-019-01626-y

Yeshua-Katz, D., Rains, S. A., Peterson, E. B., & Wright, K. B. (2019). Digital stigma coping strategies: A meta-analytic review of the association between health-related stigma dimensions and social support messages shared online. The Information Society, 36(1), 19-29.

Canzona, M. R., Fisher, C. L., Wright, K. B., Ledford, C. J. W. (2019). Talking about sexual health during survivorship: Understanding what shapes breast cancer survivors’ willingness to communicate with providers. Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 13(6), 932-942. Impact Factor: 3.58

Wright, K. B., Fisher, C. L., Rising, C. J., Afanaseva, D., Burke-Garcia, A., & Cai, X. (2019). Partnering with mommy bloggers to disseminate breast cancer risk information: A social media intervention. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(3), e12441. doi:10.2196/12441 Impact Factor: 4.67

Burke-Garcia, A., & Wright, K. B. (2018). The “real world”? Effects of online communication about prostate cancer on offline communication. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal, 16, 388-395. Impact Factor: 4.15

Liu, D., Wright, K. B., & Hu, B. (2018). A meta-analysis of social network site use and social support. Computers & Education, 127, 201-213. Impact Factor: 4.54

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.

Wright, K. B. (2020). Online health information and social networks. In H. D. O’Hair and M. J. O’Hair (Eds.), Handbook of applied communication research (pp. 863-878). Malden, MA: Wiley.

Wright, K. B., & van Ingen, E. J. (2020). Predictors of the quality of relationships in health-related online support groups: A study of attitudinal similarity, degree of online participation, and personal characteristics. In Egbert, N., & Wright, K. B. (Eds.), Social support and health in the digital age (pp. 129-148). Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Wright, K. B. (2019). Social information processing theory and a case study of idealized perceptions and misrepresentation within an online community for alcohol addiction. In C. J. Liberman, A. S. Rancer, & T. A. Avtgis (Eds.), Casing communication theory (pp. 149-162). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.

Wright, K. B. (2019). Health communication: Social support and health outcomes. In D. W. Stacks, M. B. Salwen, & K. C. Eichhorn (Eds.), An integrated approach to communication theory and research, 3rd ed. (pp. 479-491). New York: Routledge.

Kreps, G. L., & Wright, K. B., Burke-Garcia, A. (2019). The use of digital communication channels to enhance health literacy. In. S. Finn & L. R. O’Fallen (Eds.), Environmental health literacy (pp. 265-283). New York, NY: Springer, Cham.

Wright, K. B. (2018). Media and health communication. In P. Napoli (Ed.), De Gruyter’s handbook of communication science (pp. 317-340). Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.

Wright, K. B. (2018). Social influence processes and health outcomes in Alcoholics Anonymous. In R. L. Parrott (Ed.), Oxford encyclopedia of health and risk message design and processing (Part XV). New York: Oxford University Press.

Ngenye, L., & Wright, K. B. (2018). Online social support groups/communities: Implications of theoretical and empirical findings for individuals coping with health concerns. In S. Sekalala, & B. Niezgoda (Eds.), Health communication and support in the age of social media (pp. 1-27). Medical Information Science Reference. DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-3716-8.ch001

Wright, K. B. (2017). Web-based survey methodology. In P. Liamputtong (Ed.), Handbook of research methods in health social sciences (pp. 1 -14). Singapore, Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-2779-6_18-1

Burke-Garcia, A., Berry, C., Kreps, G.L., & Wright, K. B. (2017). The power and perspective of mommy-bloggers: Formative research with social media opinion leaders about HPV vaccination. Proceedings of the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, HICSS-50, pp. 1932-1941. IEEE Computer Society Digital Library. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10125/41388 ISBN: 978-0-9981331-0-2

Wright, K. B., & Nicotera, A. M. (2015). Organizational communication and conflict: A review of factors that affect burnout, organizational commitment, and retention in organizations. In T. R. Harrison, & E. A. Williams (Eds.), Organizations, health, and communication (pp. 153-171). New York: Routledge.

Wright, K. B. (2015). Workplace relationships: Telework, work-life balance, social support, negative features, and individual/organizational outcomes. In L. Cantoni, & J. A. Danowski (Eds.), Handbooks of communication science, Vol. 5: Communication and technology (pp. 397- 409). Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.

Wright, K. B. (2015). The willingness to communicate about health scale: Theoretical underpinnings and applications. In D. K. D. Kim, & J. Dearing (Eds.), Health communication measures (pp. 279-286). New York: Peter Lang.

Wright, K. B. (2015). Computer-mediated support for health outcomes: Psychological influences on support processes. In S. Sundar (Ed.), The handbook of the psychology of communication technology (pp. 488-512). Malden, MA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Wright, K. B., & King, S. (2014). Friendship-peer relationships and new technologies. In J. F. Nussbaum (Ed.), Handbook of life span communication, 2^nd ed. (pp. 195-214). New York: Peter Lang.

Wright, K. B. (2014). Talking tobacco: Much to still talk about. In S. Esrock, J. Hart, & K. Walker (Eds.), Talking tobacco (pp. 223-238). New York: Peter Lang.

Wright, K. B., & Mason, A. (2014). Medical tourism websites: The role of communication regarding risks and benefits of obtaining medical services abroad. In M. Eaves (Ed.), Applications in health communication (pp. 59-74). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.

Wright, K. B. (2013). Psychological reactance theory and college student binge drinking prevention: A case study of The Other Hangover campaign. In C. Liberman (Ed.), Casing persuasive communication (pp. 249-260). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt.

Wright, K. B. (2013). Comprehensive care center and computer-mediated support group approaches to targeting health disparities: Two case studies. In G. L. Kreps and M. Dutta (Eds.), Reducing health disparities: Communication interventions (pp. 359-377). New York: Peter Lang Publishing.

Wright, K. B. (2013). Content analysis. In J. F. Nussbaum (Ed.), Readings in communication research methods (pp. 159-167). San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic Publishing.

Wright, K. B., & Averbeck, J. (2013). Comparative research methods in new media and computer-mediated communication research. In T. Hanitzsch & F. Esser (Eds.), Handbook of comparative research methods (pp. 81-93). New York: Routledge.

Nussbaum, J. F., Pecchioni, L. L., & Wright, K. B. (2011). Interpersonal communication: A life span perspective. In M. Knapp & J. Daly (Eds.), Sage handbook of interpersonal communication, 4^th ed. (pp. 715-731). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Wright, K. B., Johnson, A. J., Bernard, D. R., & Averbeck, J. (2011). Computer-mediated social support: Promises and pitfalls for individuals coping with health concerns. In T. L. Thompson, R. Parrott, & J. F. Nussbaum (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of health communication, 2^nd ed. (pp. 349-362). New York: Routledge.

Wright, K. B., & Muhtaseb, A. (2011). Social support in computer-mediated personal relationships. In K. B. Wright & L. M. Webb (Eds.), Computer-mediated communication in personal relationships (pp. 137-155). New York: Peter Lang Publishing.

Wright, K. B., & Craig, E. A. (2010). Aggressive communication: A life span perspective. In T. A. Avtgis & A. S. Rancer (Eds.), Arguments, aggression, and conflict: New directions in theory and research, 2^nd ed. (pp. 44-66). New York: Routledge.

Query, J. L., Jr., & Wright, K. B., Amason, P., Eichhorn, K., Weathers, M. R., Haun, M. R., Gilchrist, E. S., Klein, L. B., & Pedrami, V. (2009). Quantitative methods in applied communication scholarship. In L. R. Frey & K. N. Cissna (Eds.), Routledge handbook of applied communication research (pp. 81-105) New York: Routledge.

Wright, K. B., & Query, J. L., Jr. (2008). On-line support groups among older adults with cancer, their lay caregivers and peers. In L. Sparks, H. D. O’Hair, & G. L. Kreps (Eds.), Cancer communication and aging (pp. 263-275). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Wright, K. B. (2008). Increasing health-related social support: The role of new media. In J. C. Parker, & E. L. Thorson (Eds.), Health care and rehabilitation in America: Communication in the new media landscape (pp. 243-265). New York: Springer.

Wright, K. B. (2008). New technologies and health communication. In K. B. Wright & S. C. Moore (Eds.) Applied health communication: A sourcebook (pp. 63-84). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Query, J. L., Jr., Wright, K. B., & Gilchrist, E. S. (2006). Communication and cancer hospice care: Towards negotiating attitudinal and research obstacles. In H. D. O’Hair, L. Sparks, & G. L. Kreps (Eds.), Health communication and cancer (pp. 301-319). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Wright, K. B., & Frey, L. R. (2006). Cancer support groups. In H. D. O’Hair, L. Sparks, & G. L. Kreps (Eds.), Health communication and cancer (pp. 197-216). Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.

Wright, K. B., & Query, J. L., Jr. (2004). On-line support and older adults. In J. F. Nussbaum & J. Coupland (Eds.), Handbook of communication and aging research, 2^nd ed. (pp. 499-519), Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Wright, K. B. (1999). AIDS, agenda setting, and the elite media. An analysis of the Nightline and MacNeil/Lehrer guestlists. In W. Elwood (Ed.), Power in the blood: A handbook on AIDS, politics, and communication, (pp. 281-292). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

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/Project Director: 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

Liu, D., Wright, K. B., & Hu, B. (2018). A meta-analysis of social network site use and social support. Computers & Education, 127, 201-213. Impact Factor: 4.54

Burke-Garcia, A., Kreps, G. L., & Wright, K. B. (2018). Perceptions about disseminating health information among mommy bloggers: Quantitative study. JMIR Research Protocols, 7(4), e116. DOI: 10.2196/resprot.7764

Rising, C. J., 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. Impact Factor: 1.64

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.