Family Strength and Satisfaction as Functions of Family Communication Environments

Abstract

Using Koerner and Fitzpatrick's general theory of family communication, this study examined the extent to which three dimensions of family communication environments (i.e., expressiveness, structural traditionalism, and conflict avoidance) were associated with family strengths and satisfaction. Participants included 426 young adults from first-marriage families. Results indicated that family expressiveness was positively associated with family strength and satisfaction, whereas structural traditionalism and conflict avoidance were inversely associated with both outcomes. Collectively, all three dimensions accounted for 43% of the variance in family strength, although expressiveness and structural traditionalism emerged as the only significant predictors in the model. Likewise, family expressiveness, structural traditionalism, and an interaction effect of expressiveness and traditionalism accounted for 43% of the variance in family satisfaction.

Keywords:

• Conflict Avoidance
• Family Expressiveness
• Family Satisfaction
• Family Strengths
• Schemas
• Structural Traditionalism

This article was the Top Paper presentation to the Interpersonal and Small Group Communication Interest Group at the 2008 Central States Communication Association's annual convention in Madison, WI.

Notes

Note. N = 426. All correlations are significant at p < .001.

The initial sample consisted of 474 young adults from a variety of families in the Midwest. Because members of single-parent families (n = 33) and stepfamilies (n = 15) were under-represented in the current sample, participant responses from these family types were excluded from further analysis.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul Schrodt

Paul Schrodt (PhD, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 2003) is an associate professor of Communication Studies at Texas Christian University.