| Although numerous studies have examined the relationship of multi-media use and family communication, few have described how family communication patterns associated with conflict management styles and young-adult children's electronic screen media use, as well as how young-adult children attribute their electronic screen media use with family communication. Through a program of research, this study examined reports of family communication patterns (N = 92) as measured by Ritchie and Fitzpatrick's (1990) Revised Family Communication Patterns (RFCP) instrument, reports of conflict management styles (N = 92) as measured by Rahim's (1983) Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II (ROCI-II), and reports of first-year college students' multi-media use before and after attending college (N = 92) as measured by an instrument created by the author. In addition, using attribution theory, the study analyzed interview data of first-year college students ( N = 17). Results found that there are connections among family communications and the changes in the amount of time spent on electronic screen media after young-adult children attend college and live separately from their parents. Furthermore, possible conclusions and future research are also discussed. |
