Family expressiveness, adult attachment and communication patterns in intimate relationships

Advisors: Lin Shi.Committee members: Julie Ramisch; Florensia Surjadi.Getting a better understanding of the factors that influence successful adult intimate relationships is thought to be critical for both individuals and the society in general. More specifically, this study sought out to investigate how the family of origin may have an influence on adult intimate relationships, especially in terms of the associations between family expressiveness and adult attachment, and communication patterns in these relationships. Participants were 426 college-level students from a large public Midwestern university. Findings generally supported the hypothesized associations between the study variables. For instance, positive aspects of family expressiveness tend to be associated with more secure adult attachment characteristics and constructive communication patterns. Limitations of the study, implications for professionals and recommendations for future research are also discussed.M.S. (Master of Science