PUBLICATIONS
My work has been recognized with the 2026 Giffin Research Award from the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas.
This study examined how chatbot response style, agent identity, and gender match affect perceptions and self-disclosure of depressive experiences. In a 2×2×2 between-subjects experiment with 417 U.S. adults, empathetic responses increased willingness to disclose, while anthropomorphic identity and gender match showed no significant effects. Trust predicted disclosure and satisfaction but did not mediate empathy’s effect on satisfaction, highlighting emotional responsiveness over informational approaches for support.
Big Five Traits and Self-Determination in Preferences for Working in Person: The Moderating Role of Communication Overload - Journal of Communication Management
This study examines how Big Five traits, self-determination needs, and communication overload shape return-to-office preferences among 301 full-time U.S. employees. Results showed that extraversion and relatedness favored in-person work, while conscientiousness, autonomy, competence, and higher communication overload generally favored remote work.
Understanding Chinese Weibo Users’ Frames of the LGBTQ+ Athletes During the 2024 Olympic Games: A Content Analysis - Communication & Sport
This study analyzed 598 Weibo posts about LGBTQ+ athletes using framing and moral foundations theories. Most posts (60.7%) were negative, citing Fairness/Cheating and personal or peer views. Positive posts (22.2%) emphasized Care/Harm. Findings highlight prevalent negative moral framing, especially regarding transgender athletes, and extend FT and MFT.
The study analyzes 565 Xiaohongshu posts about body positivity. Results show dominant portrayals of slim, young, light-skinned women, reflecting the Chinese “bai shou you” beauty ideal. Although some posts promote self-acceptance, most emphasize fitness and appearance improvement. Overall, body positivity on the platform reinforces rather than challenges narrow beauty standards.
Across two survey waves of eSports players, dominance consistently predicted greater aggression, while prestige was also linked to higher aggression. Leadership showed cautious negative effects after controlling for dominance. Masculinity related to power motives, whereas femininity predicted less aggression, highlighting dominance-oriented status striving as the clearest aggression correlate.
