Family Communication Patterns and Perceptions of Coparental Communication

This study tested the associations among family communication patterns (i.e., conversation and conformity orientations) and young adults’ perceptions of coparental communication. Participants included 493 young adult children from intact and divorced families. Whereas conversation orientation was positively associated with perceptions of coparental communication quality, conformity orientation was negatively associated with perceptions of coparental communication quality. After controlling for divorce status and number of siblings, conversation orientation was predictive of both supportive and antagonistic coparental communication, although the effect of conversation orientation on antagonistic coparental communication was moderated by conformity orientation.