Lucas Youngvorst received Bachelor of Arts in psychology and biology from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2012, along with both a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in communication studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato (2014) and the University of Minnesota (2018). As a communication scientist, Dr. Youngvorst is driven to identify behavioral (e.g., verbal, nonverbal), contextual (e.g., cultural, environmental), and psychological (e.g., cognitive, affective) factors that promote human well-being. His research examines how technologically-mediated communication channels (e.g., social network sites, text messaging, video chatting) influence the production, perception and processing of supportive messages. Primarily, Dr. Youngvorst explores how the functional channel features of computer-mediated modalities (i.e., affordances) predict and explain the relationships among supportive communication, mediated channels and outcomes related to well-being. Ultimately, this program of research examines the types and styles of support that are communicated and the outcomes people experience when engaging in computer-mediated supportive communication.

• Social Support
• Computer-mediated Communication
• Technological Affordances
• Verbal Person Centeredness
• Cognitive/Physiological Stress and Coping
• Mindfulness

High, A. C., Buehler, E. M., & Youngvorst, L. (forthcoming). Appreciating the complexity of online support: Examining factors entangled with channel publicness when predicting (in)effective supportive behaviors. To appear in N. L. Egbert & K. B. Wright (Eds.), Social Support and Health in the Digital Age.

Youngvorst, L., & High, A. (2018). “Anyone free to chat?” Using technological features to elicit quality support online. Communication Monographs, 85(2), 203-223. doi: 10.1080/03637751.2018.1426871

Bodie, G. D., Jones, S. M., Youngvorst, L., Navarro, M., & Danielson, C. (2018). Mapping the terrain of person-centered supportive conversations. Communication Monographs, 85(4), 467-490. doi: 10.1080/03637751.2018.1501503

Jones, S. M. & Youngvorst. L. (2018). Mindful and supportive communication. In J. A. M. Velázques & C. Pulido (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Positive Communication. London, UK: Routledge.

Danielson, C. & Youngvorst, L. (2018). To tell or not to tell: Bullied students’ coping processes and supportive communication. In R. West & C. Beck (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of Communication and Bullying. London, UK: Routledge.

Youngvorst, L., & Jones, S. M. (2017). The influence of cognitive complexity, empathy, and mindfulness on person-centered message evaluations. Communication Quarterly, 65(5), 549-564. doi: 10.1080/01463373.2017.1301508

2018 Doctoral Dissertation Recipient ($26,000), The Graduate School, University of Minnesota

2018 Old Buffalo Research Fellowship, ($4,000), Department of Communication Studies, University of Minnesota

2017 Karlyn Kohrs Campbell Teaching Award, Department of Communication Studies, University of Minnesota

2017 Scott, Jansen, and Campbell Research Fellowship ($4500), Department of Communication Studies, University of Minnesota