The theory of motivated information management and post-traumatic growth : emerging adults uncertainty management behaviors in response to adverse life experiences

Abstract

Using the Theory of Motivated Information Management (Afifi Weiner, 2004), this study tested the degree to which the uncertainty management process that emerging adults go through following an adverse event predicts their perceptions of post-traumatic growth. Participants included 215 emerging adults who have experienced an adverse life event within the past year (i.e., death of a loved one, relational disturbance, academic and workplace challenges, health issues). Overall, the results largely supported the TMIM. In the interpretation phase, the results revealed that uncertainty discrepancies are positively associated with negative emotions, which in turn are associated with assessments made in the evaluation phase. During the evaluation phase, emerging adults are likely to seek relevant information from their parents when they expect positive outcomes and have high levels of communication efficacy. In terms of the decision phase, the results suggested that emerging adults are more likely to experience post-traumatic growth when they engage in information seeking from a supportive parent and/or when they cognitively reappraise the situation. The results of this study extend both the TMIM and extant models of post-traumatic growth in meaningful ways. The findings enhance our understanding of the role of emotions in the information seeking process. Moreover, the results lend further support to the importance of communication efficacy during the information management process. Among the more important implications of this study is the finding that the likelihood of informational support seeking from a parent in the aftermath of adversity may have an impact on emerging adults psychological well-being.