The Extended Theoretical Model of Communal Coping: Understanding the Properties and Functionality of Communal Coping

Most of the research on communal coping (CC) has assumed and found that it can enhance health, as well as strengthen entire communities, under stressful circumstances. Nevertheless, recent research has questioned the seemingly inherent benefits of CC. This article rectifies these discrepancies in the literature in a new, extended theoretical model of CC that crosses interpersonal, family, health, organizational, intercultural, and small group communication, as well as psychology and public health. In so doing, we (a) provide a deeper understanding of the functionality of CC for resilience and thriving across subfields within Communication and other disciplines, (b) clarify the concept of CC and describe how it is constructed and revealed through communication, (c) address problematic ways researchers measure CC, and (d) demonstrate the processual nature of it. Future directions are suggested.