According to the American Academy of Pediatricians, family relationships provide people with a primary source of support and emotional connection. Healthy family functioning is highly determined by the nature of communication and cooperation between family members. Healthy families are able to able to negotiate conflicts and work through stress, because they have a basic foundation of respectful communication.
Significance
Experts at the American Academy of Pediatricians note that families who share positive, meaningful connections often have open communication about their daily lives. These families often have a structure in which they spend time together, such as having meals together or taking outings. Positive and functioning communication is important for a family to maintain connections to each other and also have the ability to talk and resolve conflicts or serious issues when they occur. A family with healthy communication will most likely have an easier time dealing with stress or disputes.
Strengthening Family Communication
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that parents play a critical role in the development of a family's communication style. Parents who role model respectful behavior and active listening are more likely to see their children developing the same skills. Communication can be improved by working as a family to set times and ground rules for discussions. For example, families might want to schedule occasional family meetings during which they talk about specific topics or issues. By establishing rules, such as talking one at a time or not permitting yelling, children and parents can practice structured communication.
Conflicts and Anger in Family Communication
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists notes that anger can be very destructive to family relationships because patterns of anger are often accompanied by growing resentment and decreased communication or support. It is critical for family members to minimize these unhealthy dynamics by controlling anger. When anger is present in a conflict, it can lead to personal attacks and hurt feelings. Conflicts or disputes should be discussed when all parties are able to speak and listen in a calm manner.
Identifying Communication Problems
The American Academy of Pediatricians suggests that faltering communication is one of the primary symptoms of stress in a family. Families that do not talk about key issues or problems, such as a death or illness, may develop the same level of dysfunction and resentment as families that fight and yell. When communication becomes strained, family members begin to feel disconnected from each other. In addition, the distribution of responsibilities between family members can become imbalanced, and the general capacity for problem-solving and conflict resolution can be blocked.
Solutions for Family Communication Issues
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists suggests that both individual and family therapy can be helpful for families that have serious communication issues, conflict or anger. Families can work with a qualified professional who helps the group learn new communication skills and resolve any lingering resentments. Family therapy is typically short-term, lasting eight to 12 weeks on average, and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists reports that up to 90 percent of clients find that therapy results in improved emotional and physical health.
