The relationship between unwillingness to communicate and family communication patterns

This study sought to investigate the relationship between the general tendency to approach or avoid communicative situations and reports of communication patterns within the family. People who are high in communication reward would seemingly report more independent exchange of ideas or conversation oriented family communication patterns. Two hundred (N = 200) working adults were asked to complete a questionnaire focusing on the general tendency to approach or avoid communication, degree to which they find communication rewarding, and their perceived patterns of family interaction. Results indicated that people reporting a tendency to see communication as rewarding reported having conversation oriented family interactions whereas people reporting the tendency for avoiding communication reported decreased conversation oriented family communication patterns.