Quinten Bernhold

Quinten Bernhold received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2019. He uses communication accommodation theory (CAT), affection exchange theory (AET), the communicative ecology model of successful aging (CEMSA), and other perspectives to understand how older adults age. He examines the types of family communication patterns that predict older adults’ successful aging, mental well-being, physical well-being, and dietary habits. For example, some of his most recent research focused on how older adults’ patterns of speaking about their age predict their consumption of fruits, vegetables, soft drinks, and sweets. Another recent project focused on how the memorable messages that older adults recall about aging from various relational partners (e.g, parents, grandparents) predict older adults’ own age-related communication tendencies and successful aging. At UTK, he teaches courses in Communication Theory and Family Communication.

Education

• PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara

Research Interests

• Health Communication
• Communication and Aging
• Family Communication
• Communication and Conflict