Date

6-17-2026

Department

School of Communication and the Arts

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Strategic Media (PhD)

Chair

Carol E. Hepburn

Keywords

Vulnerability, Communication Vulnerability, General Systems Theory, Social Exchange Theory, Interpersonal Communication, Thematic Analysis

Disciplines

Communication

Abstract

Vulnerability, a common human experience, is still not well-theorized within the field of communication and lacks a clear, discipline-specific definition. This qualitative study examined how vulnerability shapes interpersonal communication, using general systems theory and social exchange theory as guiding frameworks. Through in-depth interviews with individuals who identify obesity as a lived vulnerability, five central themes emerged: awareness and acceptance of vulnerability, experiencing weight-based dismissal in healthcare, weight-related communication in familial and everyday interactions, avoidance and situational disengagement, and support systems – what works and what does not. Findings show that vulnerability acts as a dynamic communicative force, shaping engagement, withdrawal, and relational adaptation. Results also reveal that relational strength influences communicative outcomes and that exchange-based models explain only part of vulnerability-driven interactions. Drawing on these findings, the study proposes and refines definitions to provide a preliminary framework for future research and to position vulnerability as a central construct in communication scholarship.

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