Relationship between Family Communication Patterns and Conflict Management Styles of Adolescents in Udenu Local Government Area, Enugu State
Keywords:
Conflict Managemen, Family Communication,, Adolescents,, Conversation Orientation, Conformity OrientationAbstract
This study determined the association between family communication patterns
and conflict management styles of adolescents in Udenu Local Government
Area, Enugu state. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed.
The population comprised 5,238 students in the 16 secondary schools in the
study area. A multi-stage sampling procedure was applied to select 360 pupils
that served as samples for the study. Three objectives guided the study. The
instruments for data collection were two standardized questionnaires and a
structured questionnaire that was validated by three lecturers from the
Department of Home Science and Management. Data collected were analyzed
using descriptive statistics and chi-square. Findings showed that 93.3% of the
respondents communicated in a consensual pattern and had high conformity
orientation and high conversation orientation within their family. A greater
proportion (35.6%) of the respondents expressed a collaborative conflict
management style. The respondents agreed that people’s beliefs and values
with a mean of 3.04, a person’s ability or inability to communicate effectively
(2.97), and an individual’s personality type (2.91), were some factors associated
with the conflict management style of adolescents. Factors associated with
family communication patterns as identified by the respondents included the
religion of family members with a mean of 2.86, parent-child and sibling
relationships (2.82), and communication skills of family members (2.78).
Family communication pattern was significantly associated with conflict
management styles of adolescents at p < 0.05 level of significance. The study
recommended that a proper family communication pattern should be
emphasized as it influences adolescents’ conflict management style