Communication in the management of uncertainty: The case of persons living with HIV or AIDS

Communication is a means of managing uncertainty. In a state of uncertainty: (a) information seeking can reduce uncertainty by allowing for better discrimination between or among alternatives; (b) information seeking can increase uncertainty by increasing the number of alternatives, or by blurring t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Communication monographs 2000-03, Vol.67 (1), p.63-84
Main Authors: Brashers, Dale E., Neidig, Judith L., Haas, Stephen M., Dobbs, Linda K., Cardillo, Linda W., Russell, Jane A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AIDS
Beliefs
Cognitive Structures
Communication
Communication Research
Decision making
Failure
Focus Groups
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Information Seeking
Interpersonal Relationship
Medical Services
Relational Communication
Uncertainty
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Communication is a means of managing uncertainty. In a state of uncertainty: (a) information seeking can reduce uncertainty by allowing for better discrimination between or among alternatives; (b) information seeking can increase uncertainty by increasing the number of alternatives, or by blurring the distinction between or among alternatives; and (c) information avoidance can maintain uncertainty. Individuals living with HIV or AIDS, like many other chronically-ill or terminally-ill individuals, must manage high levels of uncertainty about their illness. Participants in a focus group study of persons with HIV or AIDS reported effective uncertainty management, including managing uncertainty that was challenging, managing uncertainty that was essential for maintaining hope, learning to live with chronic uncertainty, and managing information problems. New information can serve uncertainty management even if it fails to reduce the number or ambiguity of alternatives, because new information can invite a reappraisal of uncertainty. A theory of uncertainty management based on these findings is offered.
ISSN:0363-7751
1479-5787
DOI:10.1080/03637750009376495