Family Communication Patterns and Relational Maintenance Behavior: Direct and Mediated Associations with Friendship Closeness

Abstract

In this study, both face-to-face and online relational maintenance behaviors were tested as mediators of family communication patterns and closeness with a same-sex friend. Participants included 417 young adults recruited from communication courses at a large university in the Midwestern United States. The obtained structural model demonstrated that family communication patterns are associated with friendship closeness though face-to-face and online maintenance behaviors fully mediate this association. Specifically, young adults from high-conversation-orientation families engage in more face-to-face maintenance behaviors, which are positively associated with friendship closeness. These findings inform understanding of how family communication patterns influence extrafamilial relationships, suggesting that parents' cognitions and communication behaviors are associated with children's social well-being.

Measuring Online Communication Attitude: Instrument Development and Validation

“…When asked about their computer usage experience, participants indicated a mean of 8.99 years (SD 02.91) of computer use, 6.42 years (SD 02.10) of e-mail use, and 5.55 years (SD02.92) of instant messenger use. Data from this population were used in a concurrent study of relational maintenance behavior (Ledbetter, 2009). …”

Answering a Call for Service: An Exploration of Family Communication Schemata and Ethnic Identity's Effect on Civic Engagement Behaviors

“…When family communication is understood from the perspective of family schemata, relationships can be uncovered explaining behaviors both within and beyond the family (Fitzpatrick & Ritchie, 1994;Ledbetter, 2009;Schrodt, 2009;Scrodt & Ledbetter, 2007). Family members' behaviors are shaped by how they understand communication within particular relationships, within particular types of relationships, and in general social situations.…”

Alexithymia and Marital Quality: The Mediating Role of Relationship Maintenance Behaviors

“…However, Ledbetter (2009) examined the mediating role of maintenance behaviors on the relationship between family communication patterns and friendship closeness. He concluded that maintenance Western Journal of Communication 49 behaviors fully mediated the relationship between both conformity and conversation orientations with friendship closeness.…”