An investigation of the relationship between adolescents' self-esteem, perceived parent-child communication satisfaction and feelings toward parents

The present investigation examined the relationship of adolescents' self-esteem, perceived communication satisfaction of each parent, and feelings toward each parent. The sample included 125 males and 127 females attending a suburban intermediate school in Southeast Texas. The sample consisted of adolescents who met two criteria: (1) They were of Caucasian background; and (2) They were living with both natural parents. Participants who volunteered were in the seventh and eighth grades. Coopersmith's Self-Esteem Inventory, Form B, Bienvenu's Communication Inventory and Lowman's Inventory of Family Feelings were administered to the participants to, respectively, measure self-esteem, communication satisfaction with each parent, and feelings toward each parent. The major research questions proposed in this study were investigated by four hypotheses: (1) There is a significant positive relationship between adolescents' level of self-esteem and perceived communication satisfaction with the same-sexed parents; (2) There is a less significant positive relationship between adolescents' level of self-esteem and perceived communication satisfaction with the opposite-sexed parent; (3) There is a significant positive relationship between adolescents' level of self-esteem and feelings toward each parent; and (4) There is a significant positive relationship between adolescents' perceived communication satisfaction and feelings toward each parent. Results from appropriate Pearson correlational procedures provided support for hypotheses 1, 3, and 4. Hypothesis 2 was not supported. Based on the results and findings the following conclusions were warranted: (1) Adolescents' self-esteem was significantly related to perceived communication satisfaction with the same-sexed and the opposite-sexed parent, for both males and females; (2) Adolescents' feelings toward each parent was also significantly correlated with their self-esteem. However, this correlation may be spurious and may depend on the effects of communication satisfaction as an intervening variable. No significant differences were found between feelings toward mothers and toward fathers for male and female adolescents; (3) For both male and female adolescents, perceived communication satisfaction and feelings toward each parent were also significantly correlated; (4) Adolescent males' and females' feelings toward and perceived communication satisfaction with each parent were significantly related to self-esteem. The following are selected recommendations which became apparent from the results and the conclusions of the investigation: (1) Replication of the present study with individuals from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds needs to be conducted; (2) Further research can focus on subjects from a range of ages; (3) More research is needed relative to the relationship of self-esteem, perceived communication, and feelings with other significant individuals besides parents; (4) Similar studies on adolescents from single parent families are warranted; (5) Future investigations concerning the variables studied should not use both the Lowman' and Bienvenu's instruments as they appear to be measuring similar constructs; (6) An item and factor analysis of the items from these two instruments may provide valuable information regarding developing a modified instrument combining the items from the original two; (7) Further research needs to be conducted relative to the assessment of the constructs of feelings and communication satisfaction and possible interrelationships of the constructs.Education, College o