title: Communication Style as an Antecedent to Reactance, Self-Efficacy, and Restoration of Freedom for Drug- and Alcohol-Involved Women on Probation and Parole.
abstract: This study extends research on psychological reactance theory by examining probation and parole officer (PO) communication style as an antecedent to female offenders' reactance and 2 indicators of subsequent drug and alcohol abuse while serving probation or parole sentences. Structural equation modeling was conducted to test a mediational path model, the results of which demonstrated that perceptions of PO conversational communication style were negatively associated with reactance but positively associated with self-efficacy to avoid drugs and alcohol. Conversely, women who perceived their POs as having a conformity communication style were more likely to report higher levels of reactance and lower self-efficacy to avoid drugs and alcohol. Psychological reactance led to desire to restore freedom, whereas self-efficacy to avoid drugs and alcohol did not. Desire to restore freedom was linked with reports of using drugs and alcohol and violations of parole or probation for using drugs and alcohol. These findings highlight the importance of communication style as an antecedent to reactance and in the relationship between POs and offenders.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Communication , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Sandi W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: b Social Sciences and Health Policy, School of Medicine , Wake Forest University , Winston Salem , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cornacchione
authors.affiliation: c School of Criminal Justice , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Merry
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morash
authors.affiliation: d Department of Psychology , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kashy
authors.affiliation: c School of Criminal Justice , Michigan State University , East Lansing , Michigan , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cobbina
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D057237:Criminals / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005610:Freedom; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D011582:Psychological Theory; D020377:Self Efficacy; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult