Olivia Palumbo
Author: Olivia Palumbo | Major: Communication | Semester: Spring 2025
My name is Olivia Palumbo. I am an honors communication student with minors in social work and child advocacy studies. Dr. Patricia Amason and I conducted research in the department of communication in order to understand the disclosure patterns in female-to-female friendships surrounding mental health.
I chose my research topic because of a communication phenomenon I noticed in my own life and friendships. As someone who hopes to become a therapist one day, mental health is an area I care deeply about. I’ve often heard that open conversations about mental health with friends can be incredibly healing and are encouraged by mental health professionals. However, I found myself reluctant to share my own struggles—even when I knew it would help me. I began to notice that many of my friends felt the same way. We all seemed to agree that vulnerability was important, yet we held back. This contradiction led me to ask a simple but important question: why are people so hesitant to share mental health challenges with their closest friends, even when they know it’s beneficial?
My interest in this topic eventually evolved into a formal research project. I first met my research mentor during my sophomore year in a class called Patient-Provider Communication. When the time came to select a mentor for my honors thesis, I knew I needed someone who specialized in interpersonal communication and was experienced in qualitative research. My mentor fit that description perfectly and played a crucial role throughout the entire research process. She helped me narrow down my literature review, refine my research questions, and make sense of the patterns that emerged in the data. Her guidance was instrumental in bringing my project to life.
Through this research, I uncovered how deeply early family communication and attachment experiences influence our capacity for emotional vulnerability in adulthood. I discovered that patterns of trust, emotional openness, and fear of judgment are often rooted in our family dynamics and continue to affect how we communicate with close friends. By analyzing interview responses, I developed a better understanding of how different attachment styles—particularly secure versus avoidant—shape disclosure behaviors. For example, individuals with secure attachment styles were more likely to open up to their friends, while those with avoidant tendencies often struggled to be emotionally vulnerable. These findings reinforced the importance of creating emotionally safe environments that support honest conversations and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
Beyond the insights I gained from the data, I also discovered a lot about myself and the research process. Going into this project, I honestly thought I wouldn’t enjoy research. I dreaded the idea of spending months on a study. To my surprise, I found the process fascinating and even energizing. I realized that curiosity is what makes research exciting. Once I allowed myself to become curious and invested in the topic, the work became something I looked forward to.
That said, the project wasn’t without challenges. The biggest obstacle I faced was obtaining IRB approval. Due to several delays, we didn’t receive approval until just a week and a half before the final project was due. I had to work extremely hard in a short period of time to complete the study, but I’m proud of what I accomplished under those conditions. At the same time, I can’t help but wonder how much more I could have explored if I’d had a little more time.
As I reflect on this experience, I feel incredibly grateful for my time at the University of Arkansas and within the Honors College. Conducting my own research has left me feeling both proud and prepared. With my bachelor’s degree in Communication now complete, I’ll be heading to the University of Texas at Austin this fall to pursue my Master of Social Work. I carry with me not only new knowledge, but also a deeper appreciation for the power of research to answer real-life questions—and hopefully, to help others along the way.