Although measures of perceived message effectiveness are commonly employed in formative evaluation research, the validity of such measures has been assumed rather than demonstrated. A meta-analysis revealed a corrected-for-attenuation correlation of .41 between perceived effectiveness (PE) and attitude (k = 40). This association was apparently subject to the influence of moderator variables, although the pattern of influence was unstable across different types of analysis. Overall, the results empirically demonstrate the value of PE judgments in formative research and in circumstances in which actual effectiveness (AE) is difficult or impossible to measure. They also prompt a host of questions concerning (a) the causal relationship between PE and AE, (b) the possibility of bias in these judgments, and (c) the potential for developing methods to reduce or remove bias in effectiveness judgments. Future research is needed to corroborate these results as well as broaden the range of AE measures.

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This article clarifies how the social contexts in which breast cancer survivors live can contribute to the stress they experience because of the disease. Guided by Solomon and Knobloch's (2004) relational turbulence model and Petronio's (2002) communication privacy management theory, this study explores personal relationship and communication boundary issues within stressors that are associated with the diagnosis, treatment, and early survivorship of breast cancer. A qualitative analysis of discourse posted on breast cancer discussion boards and weblogs using the constant comparative method and open-coding techniques revealed 12 sources of stress. Using axial coding methods and probing these topics for underlying relationship and communication issues yielded 5 themes. The discussion highlights the implications of the findings for the theories that guided this investigation and for breast cancer survivorship more generally.

Drawing on the relational turbulence model, this study queries whether it is the amount of relational uncertainty and partner interference in a relationship, or the magnitude of an increase in these mechanisms over time, that accounts for decreased relationship satisfaction for new parents. To test these competing hypotheses, a longitudinal study of 78 couples was conducted in which both partners completed surveys about their relationship at 4 time points during the transition to parenthood. Multilevel modeling revealed that the amount and the increase of relational uncertainty and partner interference were negatively associated with relationship satisfaction when considered separately, but when evaluated in combination, the magnitude of an increase in these variables was the stronger predictor of relationship satisfaction.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer requires that women make a number of decisions about their medical treatments. To gain insight into the variety of forces that shape a woman's breast cancer treatment decisions, we conducted semistructured interviews with 44 breast cancer survivors. Through an interpretive analysis, we identified five treatment decision-making styles: (a) medical expert, (b) self-efficacy, (c) relationship embedded, (d) inhibition, and (e) constellation of information, which are differentiated by two dimensions: (a) low versus high information needs and (b) self versus other preferences.