![Sample our Communication Studies journals, sign in here to start your access, 2013 & 2014 volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5927/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Information-Science2.jpg"})
Abstract
Most extant research on end-of-life communication in families has been based on the assumption that more communication is better communication. We used a multiple goals theoretical perspective to demonstrate that the quality of communication about end-of-life decisions matters. Members of 121 older parent/adult child dyads (N = 242) engaged in an elicited conversation about end-of-life health choices and reported their assessments of the conversation. Using multilevel linear modeling, we found that outside ratings of a person's communication quality (i.e., attention to task, identity, and relational goals) as well as outside ratings of the partner's communication quality were positively associated with the person's reported conversational satisfaction and hopefulness and negatively associated with the person's hurt feelings and relational distancing.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Erica Bauer, Corky Coryell, Theresa Gabel, Jessie Quintero Johnson, Mary Ramey, Leigh Anne Dageforde, Bethany Scott, Marcia Scott, Mike Scott, Amanda Spinka, and Sue Stranahan for their assistance in conducting this research. This paper is based on the dissertation of the first author, and the results were presented at the 2011 annual convention of the National Communication Association in New Orleans, LA.