Mutual influence in support seeking and provision behaviors during comforting conversations: a turn-level analysis

Mutual influence is central to prominent supportive communication theories but remains understudied. We conduct a turn-level analysis to investigate mutual influence in the unfolding nature of conversations among 334 stranger dyads discussing a personal problem. We examine how the types of messages produced by support seekers influence the immediate response from providers, and how that provider response impacts the next message produced by support seekers. Seeker use of approach behaviors and exonerating justifications were associated with higher levels of person centeredness in provider responses, and avoidance behaviors were associated with lower levels of provider person centeredness. Higher levels of provider person centeredness were associated with a greater likelihood of approach behaviors, exonerating justifications, and incriminating justifications and lower likelihood of avoidance behaviors from seekers. The results collectively suggest virtuous and vicious cycles in the messages produced by seekers and providers during supportive conversations.