Jennifer Theiss

Jennifer Theiss' research examines the ways that interpersonal communication shapes and reflects relationship characteristics during times of transition in romantic relationships and families. Her work advances relational turbulence theory, which positions relational uncertainty and interdependence processes as relationship qualities that are heightened during transitions and intensify emotions, cognitions, and communication behaviors during high-stakes interpersonal episodes. She applies longitudinal and dyadic methodologies to study how repeated volatile episodes between partners can contribute to an overarching climate of turbulence in the relationship over time, which further undermines dyadic functioning and routine communication behavior.

Theiss has been recognized with multiple awards for her scholarship. She is a fellow of the International Association for Relationship Research and the recipient of the Bernard J. Brommel Award for Outstanding Research or Distinguished Service in Family Communication from the National Communication Association. Her book, "The Experience and Expression of Uncertainty in Close Relationships," was recognized with the Gerald R. Miller Book Award from the Interpersonal Communication Division of the National Communication Association. Five of her publications have received Distinguished Article Awards and her work has been featured on Top Paper Panels at the National Communication Association and International Communication Association 16 times.

Theiss recently co-edited the "Routledge Handbook of Communication and Resilience." She also co-authored the third edition of the textbook, "Interpersonal Communication: Putting Theory into Practice." She is currently the lead editor working on the "Handbook of Relational Turbulence" with Cambridge University Press.

Ph.D., Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin
M.A., Communication Arts, University of Wisconsin
B.A., Communication Studies, St. Norbert College

Family Communication & Relationships Lab
Health and Wellness Cluster