Antecedent and Consequential Correlates of Convergence Communication in the Father-daughter Relationship During Emerging Adulthood
Open Access
- Author:
- Chesnut, Ryan Patrick
- Graduate Program:
- Communication Arts and Sciences
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- February 04, 2014
- Committee Members:
- Jon F Nussbaum, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Rachel Annette Smith, Committee Member
Michael L Hecht, Committee Member
Valarie Elizabeth King, Committee Member - Keywords:
- Father-Daughter Relationship
Convergence Communication
Parenting
Self-Perceptions - Abstract:
- The father-daughter relationship is significant and consequential. Communication research focused on this relationship is in its infancy, and as such, there is much about the effects of communication patterns in the father-daughter relationship that remain unknown. This dissertation examines the antecedent and consequential correlates of convergence communication in the father-daughter relationship. Convergence communication is the central construct in the Necessary Convergence Communication theory, which is a theoretical framework designed to describe and explain how engaging in a specific, submissive interaction routine (i.e., convergence communication) can increase an individual’s risk for experiencing suboptimal psychosocial development and functioning. In this dissertation, the antecedent correlates are hypothesized to be financial strain, authoritarian parenting, psychological control, and differentiation. The main psychosocial consequential correlate of interest is the self-concept, operationalized as global self-worth, job competence, social acceptance, romantic relationships, and satisfaction with appearance. Three hundred and eighteen emergent adult females participated in this dissertation study by completing an online survey that contained measures of all the constructs listed above. Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data via a two-step procedure in which a measurement model is first constructed and evaluated before moving on to the structural model. The results of this analysis revealed the following: a) the factor structure of convergence communication did not hold, suggesting that the manner in which it is measured needs to be refined ; b) psychological control, differentiation, and two aspects of convergence communication (motivation to converge and disequilibrium) were highly correlated indicating they lacked discriminant validity and needed to be combined into a single latent variable (labeled controlling parenting strategies); c) global self-worth, job competence, and social acceptance were highly correlated indicating they lacked discriminant validity and needed to be combined into a single latent variable (labeled general self-worth); d) financial strain and authoritarian parenting were both positively related to controlling parenting strategies, which was positively related to interpersonal deference; e) convergence communication (operationalized as interpersonal deference) was not related to perceptions of general self-worth, competence in romantic relationships, or satisfaction with appearance; e) controlling parenting strategies was negatively related to general self-worth, competence in romantic relationships, and satisfaction with appearance. These results are discussed with respect to their implications for Necessary Convergence Communication theory, the father-daughter relationship, general aspects of measurement, and the field of family communication. In addition, limitations within this dissertation are discussed and possible directions for future research are emphasized.