The relationship of family communication patterns to parental mediation styles

A telephone survey of parents (n = 216) of third-, sixth-, and ninth-grade children examined the relationship between reported family communication patterns and parental mediation styles. Concept orientation predicted parental involvement in both positive (endorsements of TV messages) and negative (counter-reinforcement of TV messages) mediation as well as critical discussion of a variety of issues with a child. Socio orientation predicted positive mediation and was associated with coviewing, but it was not related to the parental practice of either negative mediation or critical discussion. The results suggest that parents with an open communication style are more likely to make use of discussion-based intervention strategies applied to television. A parent's more control-oriented style translates into reinforcement of TV messages.