KJCKorea
Journal Central

This study explored the relationship between internalized weight bias, stigma management communication (SMC), and perceived social support among individuals with overweight or obesity. A survey of 417 adults was conducted to examine how internalized bias influences perceived support from family and healthcare providers. Using PROCESS Macro Model 4, the analysis revealed that higher internalized bias was linked to increased use of acceptance and transcendence-type SMC, while lower bias was associated with denial and challenging strategies. Additionally, internalized bias was negatively associated with perceived family support. Mediation analysis showed that perceived family support was indirectly influenced by accepting and denial-based communication, while support from healthcare providers was shaped by transcendence and challenging strategies. These findings highlight the importance of SMC styles in shaping how individuals perceive support. Encouraging awareness of available supportive resources may empower individuals to seek help, ultimately fostering healthier coping mechanisms and improved engagement in weight-related health efforts.

Existing happiness research, constrained by the dichotomy between eudaimonia (meaning) and hedonia (pleasure), has failed to achieve an integrated understanding. This theoretical gap cannot adequately explain the ‘paradox of pursuing happiness’—where seeking happiness diminishes it—and has led to a lack of effective communication strategies for enhancing well-being. To address this, the present study hierarchically redefines health as a ‘dynamic adaptive capacity’ to cope with life’s challenges, and happiness as a ‘process of flourishing’ that builds upon that foundation. We then propose the Function-Indicator Model (FIM) as a theoretical framework to explain this process. In this model, the function (eudaimonic happiness) is the process of achieving personal growth toward the purpose of life through the satisfaction of basic psychological needs and self-acceptance. Within this process, adversity is not an obstacle to be avoided but an essential catalyst for growth. In contrast, the indicator (hedonic happiness)—emotions and life satisfaction—signals how well the function is operating. This study posits self-acceptance as the key solution to the happiness paradox, arguing that sustainable happiness lies not in pursuing the indicator (pleasure) but in strengthening the function (meaning) by cultivating self-acceptance as its psychological foundation. Ultimately, by integrating insights from counseling psychology and communication studies, we explore the potential for a new paradigm of salutogenic happiness communication that prioritizes function over indicators.

This study explored the impact of increasing online interaction in modern society on individuals’ psychological distress, with a focus on whether offline interpersonal competence mediates this relationship. Online relational orientation refers to an individual’s preference for online interaction and tendency to value digital environments over offline relationships. The study surveyed 300 Korean adults through the professional survey company Surveylink from November 13 to November 15, 2024, to assess the effect of online relational orientation on psychological distress and the mediating role of interpersonal competence. The results showed that online relational orientation had a negative effect on the ‘assertiveness’ subfactor of interpersonal competence. Additionally, online relational orientation was found to have a negative impact on psychological distress. Furthermore, ‘assertiveness’ partially mediated the relationship between online relational orientation and psychological distress. Based on these findings, the study suggests the need for the development of interpersonal improvement programs and related policies to mitigate psychological distress associated with online relational orientation.