The implications of Thai cultural values for the relationship among the self-reported conflict tactics, family satisfaction, and communication competence of young adults

Abstract

This study examined the implication of Thai cultural values on for young adults’ conflicts and the relationship of cultural values to their family satisfaction and communication competence. Participants (N = 523) completed the Straus’ Conflict Tactic Scale, Margolin’s Conflict Inventory, Bollman and Schumm’s Kansas Family Life Satisfaction Scale, and Weimann’s Communication Competence Scale, and Thai Family Values Scale. Twenty interviewees participated in personal interviews. Based on the survey and the interviews, the findings suggest the following: (1) Smooth interpersonal relationship, education and competence orientation, interdependence orientation, grateful relationship orientation, flexibility and adjustment are the best predictors of Thai young adults’ conflict tactics. (2) Young adults’ family satisfaction is significantly predicted by their verbal aggression, problem-solving, and withdrawal tactics, and family satisfaction is negatively associated with the verbal aggression and withdrawal tactics but is positively associated with the problem-solving tactic. (3) Communication competence is positively correlated with young adults’ problem-solving tactic but negatively correlated with verbal aggression and withdrawal tactics. (4) Young adults’ personal income has a significant effect on their family satisfaction and communication competence--the higher the personal income, the higher the family satisfaction and communication competence. The interaction between personal income and family income has a significant effect young adults’ communication competence. (5) Young adults’ communication competence is predicted by their parents’ problem-solving tactic and withdrawal tactic, and their family satisfaction was predicted by their parents’ withdrawal tactic and verbal aggression tactic. (6) Smooth interpersonal relationship orientation, grateful relationship orientation, interdependence orientation, and ego orientation have a significant effect on young adults’ family satisfaction and communication competence, and violence tactic and the interaction between problem-solving and withdrawal tactics have a significant effect on their family satisfaction and communication competence.