The relationship between family communication patterns and interpersonal communication competence of Vietnamese young adults

Absztrakt (kivonat)

Emerging adulthood is a transitional phase when young adults (aged 18-25) enter various new environments. In this crucial period, interpersonal communication competence (ICC) is a valuable tool for them in developing quality relationships, career and educational experiences, and higher personal well-being. Family communication, or the interpersonal communication between family members, significantly predicts how children communicate with others in everyday life. Therefore, the research studied family communication, specifically family communication patterns (FCP), as an indicator of the ICC of Vietnamese young adults. Theoretically, the study reviewed the Family Communication Patterns Theory, whose crucial contributions were credited to authors Mary Ann Fitzpatrick and David Ritchie. The theory identifies two key dimensions of the FCP- conversation orientation and conformity orientation as key beliefs that significantly govern how families communicate. Second, the research employed the 10 dimensions of ICC identified by Rubin and Martin (1994), which have been proven vital in the comprehensive evaluation of interpersonal communication ability. Empirically, a questionnaire for 315 Vietnamese emerging adults was administered online, which consisted of a 26-item Revised Family Communication Patterns, a 30-item Interpersonal Communication Competence Scale, and demographic questions. The analysis produced three major findings. First, FCP have a significant relationship with the interpersonal communication competence of Vietnamese young adults. Conversation orientation, or the extent of open and unrestricted conversations in families, is positively related to 8/10 ICC skills of children: selfdisclosure, immediacy, interaction management, assertiveness, expressiveness, social relaxation, environmental control, and supportiveness. Conformity orientation, or the extent of homogeneity of attitudes, values, and beliefs emphasized in families, is positively linked to empathy and negatively linked to social relaxation. Second, conversation orientation is a stronger predictor of ICC than conformity orientation. Finally, children from high conversation-oriented families (consensual, pluralistic) show higher ICC skills than ones from other families.