The effect of family communication patterns on children’s socioemotional development

Does your child experience mood swings, throw temper tantrums or close themselves off? Does your child have trouble navigating their social environment? Are you interested to learn how you can support your child through their development? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this article is for you! 

 

These behaviour changes in your child are actually indicators of your child going through social and emotional development, a crucial period of early childhood development. The foundation for fostering healthy social and emotional development in early childhood lies in providing nurturing and responsive care by parents and caregivers, so you have an especially important role to play! But first, let us explore what forms the basis for socioemotional development.

 

What is socioemotional development?

Socioemotional development encompasses the gradual changes that children undergo as they acquire the capacity to form healthy relationships with peers and adults and experience, regulate and express emotions in a socially and culturally appropriate manner (Darling-Churchill & Lippman, 2016).

 

To foster healthy socioemotional development in early childhood, it is important for children to be immersed in a stable and secure environment which encourages open communication, respect, and expression of emotions (Early Childhood Development Agency, 2013). Parents and caregivers play an especially important role in cultivating an appropriate environment that promotes healthy socioemotional development. As such, it is crucial to develop a healthy communication pattern within the family.

Types of family communication patterns

Family communication patterns may be defined in terms of two dimensions – conformity orientation and conversation orientation. Conformity-oriented communication is characterised by a uniformity of beliefs and attitudes within the family (Koerner & Cvancara, 2002). Interactions prioritise the preservation of harmonious relationships, emphasising compliance with parental authority (Koerner & Maki, 2004), often translating into a pressure to conform and avoid conflicts (Koerner & Cvancara, 2002). Conversation-oriented communication refers to the degree to which family members are encouraged to engage in unrestricted discussions across a broad spectrum of topics (Koerner & Cvancara, 2002), wherein the family ethos prioritises open communication and individuality of each member (Koerner & Maki, 2004). It is important to recognise that these two communication patterns are not mutually exclusive, and may coexist to varying degrees within each family.

Now that we have a better understanding of socioemotional development and the types of family communication patterns, let us explore how communication patterns can influence two aspects of socioemotional development: (1) the development of social skills and interpersonal relationships, and (2) the ability to regulate and manage emotions.

Social skills and interpersonal relationships

In a study conducted by Koerner and Maki (2004), it was discovered that conversation orientation within families is significantly linked to the perceived family social support for children. Subsequent research revealed that experiencing social support within families contributes to the development of enhanced social skills and healthier interpersonal relationships in adult children, enabling them to establish healthy social support systems in their subsequent adult relationships (Koerner & Maki, 2004). Thus, it can be concluded that conversation-oriented communication, with its emphasis on open communication, is positively correlated with the cultivation of healthy family social support and, in turn, contributes to the development of social skills and positive interpersonal relationships.

Ability to self-regulate and manage emotions

A hallmark of healthy socioemotional development is the ability to express emotions properly, which is in part influenced by family communication as it is one’s most immediate community. Research indicates that young adults from families emphasising conformity in beliefs and values (high conformity orientation) tend to engage in more emotion suppression, prioritising harmony within the family over the expression of genuine emotions (Price, 2023). This often results in individuals avoiding their emotions and problems. Conversely, those from families with frequent and open communication (high conversation orientation) exhibit better self-regulating strategies, often approaching emotional distress by reframing their attitudes and mindsets (Price, 2023).

 

FUN FACT!

Did you know? Open communication within the family contributes to the development of resilience! Children whose families encourage emotional expression and communication are less likely to succumb to challenges, leading to increased academic self-efficacy, greater happiness, and lower levels of anxiety and depression (Fard, 2020).

Conclusion

In conclusion, a child’s family serves as their primary socialisation agent as their initial exposure to social interactions and the broader social world. Communication patterns within the family have substantial influence over a child’s socioemotional development, shaping their ability to navigate social situations and regulate emotions within the context of their environment. Therefore, it is imperative for parents and caregivers to create an environment that facilitates the learning and development of healthy relationships with others, along with the cultivation of effective self-regulation strategies in children.

 

Written by:

Wen Kai Ling

National University of Singapore (Year 3)

 

References

Darling-Churchill, K. E., & Lippman, L. (2016). Early childhood social and emotional development: Advancing the field of measurement. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 45, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2016.02.002

Early Childhood Development Agency. (2013). Early Years Development Framework for Child Care Centres. Early Childhood Development Agency. https://www.ecda.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/early-childhood-educator/eydf-eng.pdf 

Fard, M. M. (2020). The relationship between family communication patterns and adjustment with resiliency in children. Journal of Research & Health, 10(4), 267–274. https://doi.org/10.32598/jrh.10.4.1484.1

Koerner, A. F., & Cvancara, K. E. (2002). The influence of conformity orientation on communication patterns in family conversations. Journal of Family Communication, 2(3), 133–152. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327698jfc0203_2

Koerner, A. F., & Maki, L. (2004). Family communication patterns and social support in families of origin and adult children’s subsequent intimate relationships.

Price, C. (2023). Family communication patterns, emotion regulation, and coping family communication patterns, emotion regulation, and coping behaviors in young adults behaviors in young adults. All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9946&context=etd