Perceived sibling use of functional communication skills

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the perceived sibling use of functional communication skills (Burleson & Samter, 1990). Participants were 138 undergraduate students enrolled at a small southern university. Three significant findings were uncovered. First, with the exception of referential skill, no significant differences in perceived use of functional communication skills emerged across age groups of siblings. Second, affectively‐oriented functional communication skills were perceived to be used more frequently than nonaffectively‐oriented skills by siblings. Third, female siblings were perceived to use comforting, ego support, and conflict management skills more so than male siblings.