Family Communication Patterns

Previous research has studied the influence of concept and socio oriented family communication on American adolescent purchase influence (Foxman, Tansuhaj, and Ekstrom 1989). This study extends this research by explicitly examining the perceived influence of four types of family communication patterns on family decision making among children between the ages of eight and twelve years for three types of products (durable, non-durable, and children's products), examining these relationship in Israel, and beginning to explore communication differences between mothers and fathers. Perceived product importance had an impact on child's perceived influence among family communication patterns. Furthermore, gender differences among family communication patterns were also found and these observed differences fit traditional gender roles quite well.