With a focus on communication scholarship about a process that is inherently communicative, this volume offers unique perspectives and important insights drawn from core research in the study of social support. Divided into seven sections, this book provides a comprehensive overview of key constructs related to supportive communication. Featuring contributions from more than 60 scholars across the world, this volume explores the expansive theory and research regarding experiences of social support and supportive communication and these experiences’ social functions and influences on various types of relationships and health. The book also unpacks the complex nature and nuances of supportive communication by outlining key contexts and dilemmas that can make supportive interactions challenging and even result in supportive failures. The historical context, practical applications, and discussions of the future of supportive communication will be useful for readers learning about and conducting their own research into social support. This handbook will be of interest to various communication studies subdisciplines, including interpersonal, health, family, mediated, and organizational communication, as well as allied disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and public health.
