Browsing by Author "Russell, Laura D."

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    Multifaceted Contents and Techniques for Designing Health Communication Courses
    (CSCA, 2019) Brann, Maria; Russell, Laura D.; Communication Studies, School of Liberal Arts
    Health communication courses explore health phenomena from various angles. Whether focusing on interpersonal and organizational relationships or addressing community and national campaigns, instructors may choose from various contents to design these courses. This essay highlights critical questions, contents, and activities useful for instructors seeking information for designing health communication courses. Moreover, the authors reflect on sensitive issues unique to these courses that instructors should take into consideration when teaching.
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    Public Discourses about Teenage Pregnancy: Disruption, Restoration, and Ideology
    (2012-01) Bute, Jennifer J.; Russell, Laura D.
    Two recent incidents in the United States generated a wealth of public discourses about a particular reproductive health issue: adolescent childbearing. As the media, political pundits, and private citizens pondered the meaning of these events, they expressed viewpoints, explanations, and possible solutions in mass-mediated outlets. We examined the discourses communicated in such outlets to understand how public discussion of teenage pregnancy reveals ideological assumptions about reproductive health, ideal family forms, and the expected life course.
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    “The Secret is Out!” Supporting Weight Loss through Online Interaction
    (2010) Black, Laura W.; Bute, Jennifer J.; Russell, Laura D.
    This chapter provides a case study of how social support is communicated through online discussion on a weight loss community website. The site has many features including member profiles, journals, discussion boards, exercise and food trackers, and charts to help members keep track of their weight loss efforts. Members set goals, write journal entries, comment on one another’s journals, upload photos, join groups and challenges, and concerns issues related to diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, and other issues in their lives. Through analysis of journal entries and discussion forum comments, we discern how members demonstrate and respond to social support with one another. We also investigate the ways in which features of the online discussion help people communicate support. This study has implications for facilitators or web designers who want to create online spaces that foster supportive communication, particularly related to health concerns.