Comm Proposal Paper

Running head: FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP

Influence of Family Communication Patterns on Father-Daughter Communication and Relationship Satisfaction: How Fathers View the Relationship with their Daughters

Word Count: 4,302

There are a number of studies that have shown that the communication between a father and daughter should be healthy from a very young age. It molds a path for the daughter and her other interpersonal adulthood relationships the older she gets. This relationship is very critical to a young female as she starts to grow as an individual and engage in adult intimacy relationships of her own. According to Botta and Dumlao, the relationship a daughter establishes with her father can impact her relationship with other males (K.N. Dunleavy, 2011). Although many studies have been done about this topic, a limited amount has been done from the perspective of the father and his take on his father-daughter relationship, thus opening a gap to examine. Therefore, it is imperative that researchers continue to conduct studies about this topic in order to advance and improve the communication between a father and his daughter.
One component that contributes to the satisfaction of a father-daughter relationship is the family patterns and their communication skills within the household. As a result, studying family communication patterns can better help us understand the dynamics behind the satisfactory level of daughters and fathers, and their relationship with one another. (CITE A SOURCE) By learning how the communication between a father and daughter, if successful, can help the daughter further on with other emotional relationships, we can gain a better understanding of how to have healthier and stronger relationships between the dyads. The objective of this paper is to examine how healthy father-daughter relationships can affect the daughters’ intimacy relationships the older she gets. Specifically, this paper examines family communication patterns; father-daughter satisfaction levels within their relationship, and a healthy balance of expressiveness from either side can increase the satisfaction of the overall relationship between the dyads as a whole.

Research Background The independent variables in this study are the different perceptions perceived by the two groups – the fathers and the daughters. The dependent variables examined in this study are the family communication patterns and the father-daughter conversational orientation. The first variable discussed refers to family communication patterns and satisfaction levels; how the whole dynamic of a family is imperative to, specifically, the dyad communication skills of a father and daughter. Family communication satisfaction is tremendous with the development of children having enriched interpersonal relationships with fellow peers and partners. Results from research have proven and confirmed the positive benefits of family expressiveness, as this orientation to family interaction may only work to enhance family strength (Schrodt, 2009). The second variable mentioned is father-daughter conversational orientation – which refers to the level of satisfaction each group pertains from opening up about emotional and or conflict that the daughter may be faced with. Sometimes daughters do not seek such comfort from their fathers in certain situations, but if the overall relationship between the two is healthy, the daughter may seek comfort in such emotionally baring topics. Fathers’ and daughters’ communication and relationship satisfaction are pleasure and affection. Fathers’ and daughters’ reported high levels of satisfaction when they communicate to each other for enjoyment and excitement, as stated by past research (Maria Punyanut-Carter, 2005). Thus relating back to how imperative it is for fathers and daughters to maintain a healthy open relationship with one another. As mentioned earlier family communication patterns can have an affect on specific relationships within the household. As we narrow into the relationship between a father and his daughter we see how family communication orientation plays a vital role. In one study, findings revealed there was a positive relationship between conversation orientation family communication patterns and perceptions of interpersonal communication satisfaction. Furthermore, where there is little communication or more conformity orientation family communication patterns between fathers and daughter, the daughters may look to others for comforting words and/or to rebel against family rules. (Punyanunt-Carter, 2008) Thus it shows how valuable the communication skills are in the family household. Lack of communication between families can cause lack between fathers and daughters, and even more any parent and their child. More or less, another study indicated that if there was open-mindedness among all family members it dropped barriers that a daughter might put up when it comes to her personal issues. These patterns indicate that daughters are more likely to be satisfied in their relationship with their father when open communication and a certain amount of like-mindedness among family members are encouraged (Dunleavy & Wanzer & Krezmien & Ruppel, 2011). This shows that females are able to open up about emotional situations if the family surroundings provide an unbiased atmosphere. Daughters are willing to confide in their fathers when they have a sense of closure and acceptance. In more detail the importance of the second variable – father-daughter oriental communication satisfaction is something that shouldn’t be looked over. This plays a fundamental role in the daughters’ relationships with others, more specifically her intimacy relationships. If she isn’t able to open up to her father or feel a sense of satisfaction with her father-daughter communication relationship than that leads trouble for interpersonal relationships she may have as she grows up. Daughters who are able to comply with their fathers’ wishes and at the same time voice their opinions are also the most satisfied. (Maria Punyanunt-Carter 2005) Daughters who are able to not feel the over powering hunch that a father may bring in a relationship are more satisfied with the relationship they have. Daughters strongest motive behind their communication satisfaction came behind the simplicity of pleasure. Therefore, in order to attain satisfaction in the father-daughter relationship, there should be a balance of expectations (Maria Punyanunt-Carter, 2008) For a higher level of relationship satisfaction between the dynamics of a father-daughter relationship, they must be able to communication openly and without judgment to one another. This relationship is critical for the daughters’ upcoming intimacy relationships because, if she is unable to feel the trustworthiness from her father her choice in whom to date may be skewed by the dynamics of her relationship with her father. Therefore, all this research has done an exceptional job at getting results from the daughters intake on her relationship with her father, mainly from a wide variety of college aged girls. However, the gap is clearly presented that not much data has been taken from the fathers’ perspective. Therefore, opening questionnaire as to how the father perceives his relationship with his daughter. This study poses the following hypotheses and research questions:
RQ1: Do daughters with a less secure relationship with their fathers tend to have unhealthy intimacy relationships?

H1: A strong father-daughter relationship is positively related to the daughters’ happiness in her adult intimacy relationships.

RQ2: Do fathers tend to associate their relationship with their daughters as stronger because of their inability to accept denial?

H2: Fathers who are more prominent in their daughters emotional lives tend to help their daughters have a greater interpersonal relationships with her partners and peers the older she gets.
Conclusion
Research involving the importance of a healthy father-daughter communication relationship is essential to improving the relationship satisfaction level for both the fathers and daughters the older they get. By understanding how family communication patterns can affect the dynamics behind a parent child relationship can help build stronger relationships within the social ladder. Making sure the daughters are emotionally satisfied with their relationship between them and their father can also help influence the intimate relationships she may enter as she starts getting older. The importance behind a strong father-daughter communicational relationship is something that should further open questions and research in order to gain more knowledge about how to have a healthy and satisfying relationship between the two. This paper investigates the research gap by exploring the take fathers have on their relationships with their daughters. How to further maintain or develop a strong relationship and what can alter that relationship. This study further investigates and stresses the importance of a strong father-daughter relationship as how it can tremendously alter her upcoming relationships that she may be engaged in. Taking attentive action on this subject will further help the study and examination of how strongly significant it is to understand the fathers perspective rather than just analyzing the daughters take on her emotional relationship with her father. Eventually, with more information and take from the father we will be able to see if the relationship satisfactory level between a father and his daughter correlate with one another.
Word Count: 1,424

References

Dunleavy, K., Wanzer, M., Krezmien, E., & Ruppel, K. (2011). Daughters ' perceptions of communication with their fathers: The role of skill similarity and co-orientation in relationship satisfaction. Communication Studies, 62(5), 581-596. doi:10.1080/10510974.2011.588983

Punyanunt-Carter, N. (2008). Father-daughter relationships: examining family communication patterns and interpersonal communication satisfaction. Communication Research Reports, 25(1), 23-33. doi:10.1080/08824090701831750

Punyanunt-Carter, N. (2008). Using equity theory to examine relationship maintenance and satisfaction in father-daughter relationships. Human Communication, 11(2), 161-176.

Punyanunt-Carter, N. (2005). Father and daughter motives and satisfaction. Communication Research Reports, 22(4), 293-301. doi:10.1080/000368105000317573

Schrodt, P. (2009). Family strength and satisfaction as functions of family communication environments. Communication Quarterly, 57(2), 171-186. doi:10.1080/01463370902881650

References: Dunleavy, K., Wanzer, M., Krezmien, E., & Ruppel, K. (2011). Daughters ' perceptions of communication with their fathers: The role of skill similarity and co-orientation in relationship satisfaction. Communication Studies, 62(5), 581-596. doi:10.1080/10510974.2011.588983 Punyanunt-Carter, N. (2008). Father-daughter relationships: examining family communication patterns and interpersonal communication satisfaction. Communication Research Reports, 25(1), 23-33. doi:10.1080/08824090701831750 Punyanunt-Carter, N. (2008). Using equity theory to examine relationship maintenance and satisfaction in father-daughter relationships. Human Communication, 11(2), 161-176. Punyanunt-Carter, N. (2005). Father and daughter motives and satisfaction. Communication Research Reports, 22(4), 293-301. doi:10.1080/000368105000317573 Schrodt, P. (2009). Family strength and satisfaction as functions of family communication environments. Communication Quarterly, 57(2), 171-186. doi:10.1080/01463370902881650