The Intergenerational Transmission of Family Communication Patterns: (In)consistencies in Conversation and Conformity Orientations across Two Generations of Family

Abstract

For 50 years, researchers have used family communication patterns theory (FCPT) to examine the associations among conversation and conformity orientations and a variety of family member outcomes. Despite the explanatory breadth of this general theory, however, researchers have yet to empirically test whether or not family communication patterns (FCPs) are transmitted from one generation to the next. In this study, we sought to advance FCPT by testing the intergenerational transmission of FCPs across two generations of family. Participants included 188 grandparent-parent-grandchild triads from the southern region of the United States. Results indicated that grandparent conversation and conformity orientations predict both parent and grandchild conversation and conformity orientations. Consistent with the intergenerational transmission of FCPs, indirect effects of grandparent FCPs emerged for the grandchild’s FCPs through the parent’s FCPs.