Date of Award

May 2016

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Communication

First Advisor

Nancy Burrell

Committee Members

Mike Allen, Sang-Yeon Kim, Erin Ruppel, Erin Sahlstein

Keywords

Family Communication, Family Communication Patterns, Family Satisfaction, Introversion, Social Self-efficacy, Temperament

Abstract

This study examines how introversion, family communication patterns (FCP), and modified communication behaviors relate to perceived levels of social self-efficacy and family satisfaction. Participants (N = 359) were undergraduate students at a large Midwestern urban university. The proposed causal model suggests conversation and conformity levels within a FCP impact whether families employ facilitative or inhibitive communication modification behaviors in interactions with an introverted family member. An Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method of estimation was used to test the causal model through a comparison of the expected and actual correlation matrix. The results indicated the data were consistent with the proposed theoretical model. The coefficients were all statistically significant at the p < .05 level. Tests based on the procedures outlined by Sobel (1982) were conducted to consider the possible impact of mediating effects for each sequence path represented within the model. The Sobel test demonstrated that each of the mediating variables act as significant (p < .05) sources of mediation between the variables represented within the model. Within the hypothesized path configurations, family satisfaction and social self-efficacy were used as the outcome measures. However, the results of the analysis indicate a significant path also exists between introversion and social self-efficacy. Findings suggest the implementation of modification behaviors do impact perceived levels of social self-efficacy and family satisfaction. Additionally, study results suggest introversion positively impacts levels of social self-efficacy. The findings of the research study have implications for family communication and interpersonal communication research.

Download

Share

COinS