Contact Information
702 South Wright St
M/C 456
Urbana, IL 61801
Research Areas
Research Interests
- interpersonal and health communication
- patient-provider communication
- uncertainty, stigma, contested illness, illness work
Research Description
I study health communication in interpersonal and patient-provider contexts, focusing on the role communication plays in how people navigate the uncertainties associated with conditions that are chronic, non-visible, not well understood, underfunded, contested, and associated with stigma. My first line of research is rooted in the epistemic challenges of communicatively navigating the uncertainties of illness in relationships. I extend theorizing about uncertainty in three ways: by studying uncertainty as process, by linking uncertainty to supportive communication, and by connecting private and public discourses of illness. My second line of research strives to develop solutions to overcome the support and care dilemmas and quandaries associated with uncertainty. I develop and implement educational and skills-based training for a) social network members; b) medical providers; and c) fitness professionals. I aim to improve the provision of health-related support, care, and instruction surrounding topics such as emotional suppport, uncertainty management, disability awareness, and cultural competency, including implicit bias.
Education
University of Texas at Austin, Communication, Ph.D.
Arizona State University, Communication, B.A., M.A.
Courses Taught
CMN 462: Interpersonal Health Communication
Additional Campus Affiliations
Associate Professor, Communication
Associate Professor, Biomedical and Translational Sciences
Recent Publications
Adamson, B., Thompson, C. M., Makos, S., Pool, K., Liechty, T., Chiu, C. Y., Woo, M., & Rice, L. (2024). What happens post-pilot testing? A model for revising a disability awareness and competency training program. Disability and Health Journal, Article 101612. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2024.101612
Thompson, C. M., Taniguchi-Dorios, E., & Reid, T. (2024). Further examination of the support quandary hypothesis: a weekly diary study of how uncertainty both motivates and challenges supporting close others with mental illness. Human Communication Research, 50(1), 95-107. Article hqad032. https://doi.org/10.1093/hcr/hqad032
Caban, S., Makos, S., & Thompson, C. M. (2023). The Role of Interpersonal Communication in Mental Health Literacy Interventions for Young People: A Theoretical Review. Health communication, 38(13), 2818-2832. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2022.2121473
Kerr, A. M., Thompson, C. M., Stewart, C. A., & Rakowsky, A. (2023). “I Want Them to Still Trust Me with Their Child’s Care”: A Longitudinal Study of Pediatric Residents’ Reactions to and Communication with Parents about Medical Uncertainty across Residency. Health communication, 38(5), 1054-1064. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2021.1991637
Taniguchi-Dorios, E., Thompson, C. M., & Reid, T. (2023). Testing a Model of Disclosure, Perceived Support Quality, and Well-Being in the College Student Mental Illness Context: A Weekly Diary Study. Health communication, 38(11), 2516-2526. https://doi.org/10.1080/10410236.2022.2086841