Emotional Intelligence as a Mediator of Family Communication Patterns and Reticence

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between family communication patterns, emotional intelligence and reticence. Participants (N = 296) responded to three measures: (a) the Revised Communication Patterns Scale (Ritchie & Fitzpatrick, 1990), (b) the Emotional Intelligence Scale (Schutte et al., 1998), and (c) the Reticence Scale (Keaten, Kelly, & Finch, 1997). An analysis of partial correlations indicated that the relationship between conversation orientation and reticence was mediated by emotional intelligence. A hierarchical regression on emotional intelligence revealed a significant interaction between conversation orientation and conformity orientation.

Keywords:

• Communication patterns
• Conformity orientation
• Conversation orientation
• Emotional intelligence
• Family
• Reticence

Notes

∗p < .05.

∗p < .05.