Family Communication Patterns and Difficult Family Conversations

Abstract

Difficult conversations among family members can impact the health and structure of familial relationships. The reported study investigated potential antecedents and outcomes of difficult family conversations. Perceived consequences of, reasons behind, responses to, and results of difficult conversations were considered, and the family communication patterns (FCP) framework guided the examination. Although the majority of respondents feared negative consequences prior to conversations, most reported positive results. The type of response received from conversational partners was associated with the eventual result. Counter to predictions, data analysis found no relationships among the family communication styles proposed by FCP and the antecedents and outcomes of difficult family conversations. These results suggest that the need for engaging in difficult conversations may outweigh family communicative norms and potential family consequences. Practical implications of the findings, including how therapists or counselors might communicate the benefits of discussing difficult topics generally and of avoiding negative reactions during such conversations, are considered.

Keywords:

• Difficult Conversations
• Family Communication Patterns
• Resilience

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the editor and two anonymous reviewers for their questions and insight.

Notes

1. For the original two-factor model (i.e., 15 conversation orientation items, 11 conformity orientation items), fit was not good, CFI=.72, RMSEA=.11. Items with weak factor loadings and substantial residual error were dropped to form the final scales.

2. The final conversation orientation items included: “I can tell my parents almost anything”; “My parents and I often have long, relaxed conversations about nothing in particular”; “I really enjoy talking with my parents, even when we disagree”; “My parents like to hear my opinions when they do not agree with me”; “My parents encourage me to express my feelings.”

3. The final conformity orientation items included: “My parents often say things like, ‘Our ideas are right and you should not question them’”; “My parents feel that it is important to be the boss”; “My parents often say things like, ‘A child should not argue with adults’”; “My parents become irritated with my views if they are different from theirs.”

4. To conduct the transformation, the following equation was used:

where X2=transformed score; σX2=approximated population standard deviation; σX1=sample standard deviation; X1=original score; MX1=sample mean; MX2=approximated population mean.

5. Some respondents (n=9–10) failed to respond to the following categories: why, how, response, and result. Because these individuals did answer the other questions, the reported frequencies are in terms of valid percent.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David M. Keating

Dave Keating is PhD student in the department of communication at Michigan State University

Jessica C. Russell

Jessica Russell is an assistant professor at California State University, Long Beach

Jennifer Cornacchione

Jennifer Cornacchione is PhD student in the department of communication at Michigan State University

Sandi W. Smith

Sandi Smith (PhD, University of Southern California) is professor of communication and director of the Health and Risk Communication Center