Lindsey S. Aloia, associate dean in the Graduate School and International Education and associate professor in the Department of Communication, and Anna Gentry, former master's student, received a Top Paper Award from the Interpersonal Communication Division during the Southern States Communication Association's Annual Convention.

Their paper, titled Seeking and Providing Social Support in Online Forums for Individuals Experiencing Depression, investigated how individuals suffering from depression and its associated stigma seek and provide support in online communities.

Aloia and Gentry examined digital posts on an online discussion board for individuals experiencing depression. The findings of their study demonstrated how individuals implicitly and explicitly seek support online. In addition, the results highlighted how individuals receive informational, emotional, and network support in response to their requests. Finally, the findings described the social and self stigma associated with their diagnoses and symptoms of depression. Taken together, the results of their study emphasized the utility of online social support platforms for individuals suffering from depression and illustrated the importance in facilitating supportive communication interactions.

The Top Paper Award is a regional-level award for original research, given by the Interpersonal Communication Division of the Southern States Communication Association, an academic association for scholars interested in the study, teaching, and application of communication. The co-authored conference paper was competitively peer-reviewed and recognized by other researchers as the best paper submitted to the annual conference within the field of interpersonal communication in 2024.

Lindsey Aloia's research focuses on elucidating the causes and consequences of verbal aggression in interpersonal associations. Specifically, Aloia studies how qualities of interpersonal interactions, as well as individuals, shape the use of and reactions to verbally aggressive experiences. Aloia's work considers consequential communication and illuminates the personal, relational, and health implications of verbal aggression.

About SSCA: The Southern States Communication Association states, "Our purpose is to promote the study, criticism, research, teaching, and application of the artistic, humanistic, and scientific principles of communication. SSCA, a not-for-profit organization, exists for educational, scientific, and literary purposes only."