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Evaluative Perceptions of Patronizing Speech Addressed to Institutionalized Elders in Contrasting Conversational Contexts*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Ellen Bouchard Ryan ,
Sheree D. Meredith  and
Grace B. Shantz
Ellen Bouchard Ryan
Affiliation:
McMaster University
Sheree D. Meredith
Affiliation:
McMaster University
Grace B. Shantz
Affiliation:
McMaster University
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Abstract

The interactional environment of institutionalized elders has been described as communication-impaired due to the lack of opportunities for ordinary adult-to-adult conversation. Patronizing speech from caregivers is one form of constraining communication that may frustrate elders within institutions. In this study, 256 adults (randomly assigned to one of 16 experimental conditions) evaluated either a patronizing conversation between a nurse and an elderly woman in a nursing home or a more neutral version of the same conversation. In a complex between-subjects design based on Communication Accommodation Theory, we examined the possible influences on the evaluation of patronizing speech of three manipulations: resident alertness, personal situational topic, and privacy of setting for the conversation. Across all contexts, the nurse using a patronizing speech style was viewed as less respectful and less nurturant than the nurse using the neutral style. The resident was considered less satisfied with the patronizing conversation. The situational topic manipulation yielded main effects for these same variables, with the nurse criticizing a resident about a personal issue being viewed as less respectful and nurturant than the nurse raising a safety issue. Moreover, the resident addressed about a personal issue was rated as less competent than the resident addressed about a safety issue. Situational topic interacted with speech style on only one measure, while resident alertness and privacy had no impact on the negative connotations of patronizing speech.

Résumé

On considère que le milieu d'interaction chez les aînés placés en établissement est entravé sur le plan de la communication en raison des possibilités restreintes de conversations spontanées entre adultes. L'emploi d'un langage condescendant par les prestateurs de soins représente une forme de communication contraignante qui frustre les aînés au sein des établissements. Dans le cadre de cette étude, 256 adultes (placés aléatoirement dans une des 16 conditions expérimentales) ont évalué une conversation condescendante entre une infirmière et une aînée dans une maison de soins infirmiers ou une version plus neutre de cette même conversation. Avec un devis inter-sujet complexe, fondé sur la théorie de l'accommodation de la communication, nous avons étudié les influences possibles sur l'évaluation d'un langage condescendant selon trois contextes: la capacité de réaction mentale d'un résident, un sujet personnel sur une situation particulière, et l'intimité du milieu où se tient une conversation. Dans tous ces contextes, l'infirmière utilisant un langage condescendant était considérée moins respectueuse, voire moins bien éduquée, que l'infirmière utilisant un langage neutre. Il a été établi qu'une conversation condescendante satisfaisait moins le résident. Le contexte de la situation particulière a donné d'importants résultats avec ces mêmes variables. L'infirmière ayant critiqué un résident au sujet d'une question personnelle a été considérée moins respectueuse et bienveillante que l'infirmière soulevant une question de sécurité. De plus, le résident interrogé au sujet d'une question personnelle a été évalué moins compétent que le résident interrogé au sujet d'une question de sécurité. Le contexte de la situation particulière a eu un effet sur le style de conversation dans une seule mesure, tandis que la capacité de réaction mentale d'un résident et l'intimité n'avaient aucun effet sur les connotations négatives d'un langage condescendant

Keywords

CommunicationAttitudesInstitutionalization.Communicationattitudesinstitutionnalisation.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , Été/Summer 1994 , pp. 236 - 248
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1994

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