INAPPROPRIATE ACCOMMODATION IN COMMUNICATION TO ELDERS - INFERENCES ABOUT NONVERBAL CORRELATES

According to Communication Accommodation Theory, overaccommodation in intergenerational communication with elders is frequently based on ste reo-typed expectations of frailty and dependence. This study examined the role of nonverbal behaviors in such overaccommodation. Adult volun teers (N = 120; mean age = 29 years) read either a patronizing or neut ral version of one of three conversations between a nursing home resid ent and a nurse. As in our earlier study, the nurse's use of the patro nizing conversational style was rated as less respectful, less nurtura nt, and more frustrating for the resident than the neutral style. The main analyses indicated that negative nonverbal behaviors were rated a s significantly more likely to occur with the patronizing style while positive nonverbal behaviors were rated as significantly less likely. The negative evaluative impact of patronizing style was especially app arent for instrumental task situations with high compliance demands. T he effects for conversational style were essentially replicated for a smaller sample (N = 50) of formal care providers.