Delineation of a Threefold Relationship Among Communication Input Variables, Identity Gaps, and Depressive Symptoms

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-5-2013

Department

Communication Studies

School

Communication

Abstract

In order to delineate a threefold relationship among communication variables, identity problems, and depressive symptoms, a structural equation model involving sequential relationships from communication competence, communication apprehension, and assertiveness to personal-relational, personal-enacted, and enacted-relational identity gaps to depressive symptoms was estimated with a sample of 475 participants. In the estimation, communication competence and communication apprehension significantly predicted all three identity gaps. However, assertiveness significantly predicted only an enacted-relational identity gap. Then, all three identity gaps had significant effects on depressive symptoms. In the analysis checking mediation effects of the identity gaps between the communication variables and depressive symptoms, the three identity gaps significantly mediated effects of the communication variables on depressive symptoms, suggesting that the identity gaps are a necessary linker conveying effects of communication problems to depressive symptoms.

Publication Title

Southern Communication Journal

Volume

78

Issue

2

First Page

163

Last Page

184

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