Revised Family Communication Pattern Inventory – Chinese Version

Description

Parent-child communication is primarily achieved through parent-child interactions and is one of the important ways to fulfill the educational functions within a family. Parents shape children’s ability to acquire rules through role modeling and training. Parent-child communication in the family is a process through which parents and children achieve mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation. Through parent-child communication, parents and children exchange materials, information, viewpoints, opinions, emotions, and attitudes.

Authors and Contact Email

Fitzpatrick

Purpose

Fitzpatrick points out that relationship orientation (关系定向) and concept orientation (观念定向) are two dimensions of parent-child communication patterns. Relationship-oriented communication emphasizes family harmony and interdependence among members, while concept-oriented communication focuses on creating an unconstrained interaction environment for all family members. Based on the scoring in these two dimensions, families can be divided into four types: Consensual (一致型), Pluralistic (多元型), Protective (保护型), and Lassez-Faire (放任型).

Test Year

2004

Administration Method and Scoring

According to Fang Xiaoyi et al. (2004), four types of parent-child communication among adolescents are classified: Consensual (一致型), Pluralistic (多元型), Protective (保护型), and Lassez-Faire (放任型). Research shows that the Protective type has the largest proportion among Chinese adolescents, followed by the Pluralistic type, with the Lassez-Faire and Consensual types ranking third and fourth, respectively.

Reliability and Validity

Research by Sandy indicates that positive family communication correlates positively with higher family relationship satisfaction and fewer family conflicts. Moreover, it is significantly positively related to children’s higher self-esteem, mental health levels, and active coping strategies. Additionally, Brage’s research found that positive communication between children and mothers is significantly negatively correlated with children’s feelings of loneliness, affecting self-esteem, and in turn, depression levels. Several studies have found significant correlations between parent-child communication and adolescent behaviors, including smoking, drinking, criminal activities, aggression, and sexual behavior.

Factors and Subscales

Ackard (2006) examined the perceptions of 4,767 adolescents on mother-child and father-child communication and their relationship with behaviors and emotional health. The findings showed that children receiving less parental communication and care are closely related to unhealthy weight control, substance use, suicidal tendencies, physical discomfort, depression, and low self-esteem. The Family Communication Pattern Scale developed by McLeod and Chaffee (1972) is an essential measurement tool in early research on parent-child communication. They contend that there exists a stable manner and tendency for parent-child communication, which can be described using the dimensions of concept orientation (观念定向) and relationship orientation (关系定向).

Keywords

Parent-child communication, family education, communication patterns, relationship orientation, concept orientation

Items in Chinese

1. 我允许孩子在一些事情上和我存在不一致的意见。
2. 当涉及到一些重要事情的时候，希望孩子能听从我的观点。
3. 我认为“家庭里的每一个人都有决定某些事的权利”。
4. 当谈论一些事情的时候，我会时常询问孩子的看法。
5. 我和孩子谈论事情的时候，我总是说最后一句话的人。
6. 在家庭里，维护家长的权力和威严很重要。
7. 我鼓励孩子去挑战我的看法和信念。
8. 我经常鼓励孩子看事情的两面（积极面和消极面）。
9. 孩子经常告诉我他所想的事情。
10. 孩子会告诉我任何事。
11. 当孩子不顺从我的观点的时候，通常我会很生气。
12. 当我认为孩子有不当行为的时候，我会先严厉批评他，而不是先去了解他做这件事的原因和想法。
13. 我和孩子经常谈论彼此的感受和情感。
14. 希望孩子在家能很听大人的话。
15. 我和孩子谈话会感到很放松。
16. 我经常对孩子说：“长大以后你就知道了”。
17. 我的孩子喜欢和我讲话，即使有时我们意见不一致。
18. 我时常鼓励孩子去表达他自己的感受。
19. 我和孩子会毫无保留的交流自己的情感。
20. 在和孩子交流问题时，我经常认为我的看法是正确的，不希望他有怀疑。
21. 我认为孩子不要和大人顶嘴。
22. 我认为无论什么事情都不需要和孩子讨论。
23. 我和孩子经常会谈论一天中我们所做的事情。
24. 我认为孩子应该听大人的话。
25. 我和孩子经常谈论对将来有帮助的计划。
26. 我喜欢听孩子的观点，即使我不同意他的观点。

Items in English

1. I allow my child to have differing opinions from me on some matters.
2. When it comes to important matters, I hope my child will listen to my viewpoints.
3. I believe that “everyone in the family has the right to decide on certain matters.”
4. When discussing matters, I often ask for my child’s views.
5. When I talk about things with my child, I am always the one who says the last word.
6. It is important to maintain parental authority and dignity in the family.
7. I encourage my child to challenge my views and beliefs.
8. I often encourage my child to see both sides of things (positive and negative).
9. My child often tells me what he thinks.
10. My child will tell me anything.
11. When my child disobeys my opinions, I usually get angry.
12. When I think my child has behaved improperly, I will first harshly criticize him rather than try to understand his reasons and thoughts.
13. My child and I often talk about each other’s feelings and emotions.
14. I hope my child will listen to adults at home.
15. I feel relaxed when talking to my child.
16. I often tell my child, “You’ll understand when you grow up.”
17. My child enjoys talking to me, even if we sometimes disagree.
18. I often encourage my child to express his own feelings.
19. My child and I communicate our feelings openly and without reservation.
20. When discussing issues with my child, I often believe my views are correct and do not want him to doubt them.
21. I believe children should not talk back to adults.
22. I think there’s no need to discuss everything with children.
23. My child and I often talk about what we did each day.
24. I believe children should listen to adults.
25. My child and I often discuss plans that are helpful for the future.
26. I like to hear my child’s viewpoints, even if I disagree with them.

References

Fitzpatrick, Sandy, Brage, McLeod, Chaffee, Ackard, Ritchie.