Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Paper

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

William Buhrow

Second Advisor

Ryan Thompson

Third Advisor

Nahanni Freeman

Abstract

This study investigated how relational closeness, trust, coping, spirituality, and religiosity impact a person’s subjective experience of encouragement. It also explored whether worldview alignment or the type of relationship determines whether a person experiences words of encouragement as positive or negative. Participants (n = 153) filled out questionnaires regarding these constructs as well as recalled times when they were encouraged and experienced that encouragement either positively or negatively. Results showed that positive and negative coping styles and relationship closeness were predictors of a positive experience with encouragement. Coping alignment with the recipient of the encouragement was a predictor for both positive and negative experiences with encouragement, accounting for more variance with a negative experience than a positive one. No other constructs were predictive of either positive or negative experience of encouragement.

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