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The influence of affect and attribution on the outcome of parent-adolescent communication in decision-making
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship that affect has on the attributions of parents and adolescents made during a problem-solving discussion. The relationship between affect and satisfaction with the outcome of a problem-solving discussion as well as overall family satisfaction were also explored. Gender differences were also examined. This study contributes to the understanding of affect, attribution and gender in family relationships. Four research questions were specifically addressed in this study: (1) Does the affect of parents and adolescents correlate with their attributed statements in a problem-solving discussion? (2) Do parents and adolescents' perceptions of their affect correlate with their self-reported satisfaction in the outcome of a problem-solving discussion? (3) Do the observations of parents' and adolescents' nonverbal behavior relate to their self-reported family satisfaction? and (4) Does the gender of the parent affect the adolescents' satisfaction with the outcome of a problem-solving discussion? To address the above questions, 60 parent-adolescent pairs were videotaped discussing a current family problem. The parents and adolescents also individually completed a set of instruments pertaining to affect and family satisfaction before and after the problem-solving discussion. The videotaped discussions were transcribed and coded according to the number and types of attributions (external and internal) made in a problem-solving discussion. One key finding of the study was that affect does influence the number and types of attributional statements made during a parent-adolescent problem-solving discussion. When mood was operationalized in terms of observed nonverbal behaviors, positive mood was associated with more internal attributions in a problem-solving discussion while negative mood was associated with more external attributions. But, affect played a lesser role in determining the satisfaction level in achieving a favorable outcome. And, affect appeared to have no significant relationship to overall family satisfaction for both parents and adolescents. Adolescents (both male and female) were more satisfied in the outcomes of their problem-solving discussions with their mothers than fathers. Thus, the findings suggest that mood does influence attributions in a problem-solving discussion, but not the overall family satisfaction.
Subject Area
Communication|Developmental psychology|Social psychology|Occupational psychology|Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology
Recommended Citation
Niedzwiecki, Charissa Kay, "The influence of affect and attribution on the outcome of parent-adolescent communication in decision-making" (1996). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9712523.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9712523