A Meta-Analytical Review of Family Communication Patterns and their Associations with Information Processing, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Outcomes

Abstract

This meta-analysis reviews the findings of 56 studies (n=19,745) examining the associations among family communication patterns (i.e., conversation and conformity orientations) and information-processing, behavioral, and psychosocial outcomes. When both conversation and conformity orientations are considered collectively, the cumulative evidence indicates a small, but meaningful relationship between family communication patterns and overall outcomes (r=.285). Similar overall effect sizes were observed for conversation (r=.262) and conformity orientations (r=.253), though the average effect size for conversation orientation and psychosocial outcomes (r=.460) was greater in magnitude than those obtained for information processing (r=.238) or behavioral outcomes (r=.276). Slightly larger effect sizes were observed when researchers used the Revised Family Communication Patterns scale (r=.332) as compared with the Family Communication Patterns scale (r=.261), though this difference in magnitude was statistically non-significant. Collectively, the results suggest that family communication patterns have a meaningful association with a variety of cognitive activities and relational behaviors, as well as individual well-being.

Keywords:

• Family Communication Patterns
• Conversation Orientation
• Conformity Orientation
• Information Processing
• Conflict Behaviors
• Psychosocial

Notes

1. Some of the variables categorized as information-processing, behavioral, or psychosocial outcomes may also be included in other categories, i.e., these groupings are not entirely mutually exclusive. For example, children's perspective taking may be classified as both an information-processing and a behavioral construct. In such instances, the items used to measure each variable (i.e., their operationalizations) were carefully reviewed to determine where the variable fit within the classification scheme. For instance, the items used to measure children's perspective taking assessed frequencies of perspective-taking behaviors, and thus, were classified as a behavioral outcome. Likewise, informational reception apprehension is a form of anxiety (which is psychosocial) but was measured with items that assessed one's motivation for, and capabilities with, processing different kinds of information (and thus, it was classified as information processing).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul Schrodt

Paul Schrodt (Ph.D., University of Nebraska – Lincoln, 2003) is an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Texas Christian University

Paul L. Witt

Paul L. Witt (Ph.D., University of North Texas, 2000) is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies

Amber S. Messersmith

Amber S. Messersmith (Ph.D., University of Kansas, 2008) is an Assistant Professor in the department of Communication Studies at James Madison University