Valerie Rubinsky

Academic & Teaching Interests

Valerie’s research, which has appeared in more than a dozen peer-reviewed journal publications and 26 competitive conference presentations, explores how individuals manage challenging conversations with important others, primarily about intimacy and intimate health. Specifically, she has studied the communicative processes of personal and group identity management within the contexts of romantic relationships and families, and how those processes affect relational quality and overall well-being. Valerie’s recent research projects have helped develop and test a Theory of Memorable Messages as it applies to women and gender minorities’ sexual and reproductive health, intimate partner communication, and healthy dating relationships. She is particularly interested in the relational and health experiences of individuals in stigmatized relationships and families. Her research has received top paper awards from the Eastern Communication Association and the National Communication Association.

In addition to research, Valerie has taught courses in interpersonal communication, public speaking, intercultural communication, and small group communication. Her research and teaching materials have appeared in eight chapters within edited volumes and instructional manuals. She looks forward to developing new communication courses for the Social Science Program at UMA.

Recent Publications

See CV for full list of publications and conference presentations »

Rubinsky, V. (2019). Identity gaps and jealousy as predictors of satisfaction in polyamorous  relationships. Southern Communication Journal, 84, 17-29. doi:10.1080/1041794X.2018.1531916

Kerr, A., Thompson, C., & Rubinsky, V. (2019). Memorable messages parents of children with  vascular birthmarks receive from others: Implications for stigma and identity. Health Communication. Advance online publication. doi:10.1080/10410236.2019.1582314

Rubinsky, V. (2018). “Sometimes it’s easier to type things than to say them:” Technology in  BDSM sexual partner communication. Sexuality & Culture, 22, 1412-1431. doi:10.1007/s12119-018-9534-2

Rubinsky, V. (2018). Revealing or concealing polyamory in the family: Cultural rules for communicating polyamory to family members. Women & Language, 41, 16-38. Lead article, Special Issue on “Extending the (LGBT) Acronym.”

Rubinsky, V., Gunning, J., & Cooke-Jackson, A. (2018). “I thought I was dying:” (Un)Supportive communication surrounding early menstruation experiences. Health Communication. Advance online publication. doi:10.1080/10410236.2018.1548337

Rubinsky, V., Cooke-Jackson, A., Gunning, J., & Bartson, C. (2018). “You can use the app instead of guessing:” Women’s use of period-tracking mobile applications for menstrual management. International Journal of Health and Media Research, 2, 101-118. Retrieved from http://ijhmr.hallym.ac.kr/

Rubinsky, V., Hosek, A. M., & Hudak, N. (2018). “It’s better to be depressed skinny than happy fat:” College women’s memorable body messages and their impact on body image, rape myth acceptance, and self-esteem. Health Communication. Advance online publication. doi:10.1080/10410236.2018.1504659

Rubinsky, V. (2018). Showing your pride: Image as interpellation in The PRIDE Study. Iowa Journal of Communication, 50, 173-196.

Rubinsky, V. (2018). Bringing up the green-eyed monster: Conceptualizing and communicating jealousy with a partner who has other partners. The Qualitative Report, 23, 1441-1455. Retrieved from https://nsuworks.nova.edu/tqr/vol23/iss6/11/

Rubinsky, V., & Cooke-Jackson, A. (2018). Sex as an intergroup arena: How women and gender minorities conceptualize sex, sexuality, and sexual health. Communication Studies, 69, 213-234. doi:10.1080/10510974.2018.1437549

Cooke-Jackson, A., & Rubinsky, V. (2017). Deeply rooted in memories: 30 years of memorable message research. Health Communication, 33, 409-422. doi:10.1080/10410236.2016.1278491

Rubinsky, V., & Cooke-Jackson, A. (2017). Tell us something other than to use a condom and that sex is scary: Memorable messages women and gender minorities wish for and recall about sexual health. Women’s Studies in Communication, 40, 379-400. doi:10.1080/07491409.2017.1368761

Rubinsky, V., & Cooke-Jackson, A. (2016). “Where is the love?” Expanding and theorizing with LGBTQ memorable messages of sex and sexuality. Health Communication, 32, 1472-1480. doi:10.1080/10410236.2016.1230809