English abstract
The current study aimed to know the family communication methods as perceived by grade 10 students in Al Batinah North Governorate and its relation to some variables, using the descriptive approach. In order to achieve the objective of the study, the researcher used a number of tools, including: the initial data form, and the measure of family communication patterns described by (Ritchie & Fitzpatrick.).
It has been divided into two patterns: conversation orientation and conformity orientation. These two orientations resulted to four family styles: consensual, protective, pluralistic and laissez-faire family. The study tools have been applied to (346) grade 10 students in North Batinah Governorate and has reached the following results:
Conformity orientation is predominant among respondents, with a mean of (3.27) followed by conversation orientation with an average of (3.18). There are statistically significant differences in conversation orientation due to the gender variable in favor of females, while there were no gender differences in conformity orientation. Other statistically significant differences found in conversation orientation due to the age variable in favor of those aged (14-15), while no differences were noticed in conformity orientation.
The statistics also show significant differences in conversation orientation due to the educational level of the father and mother in favor of postgraduate and bachelor degrees, while no differences are found in conformity orientation.
The study has also revealed that there were statistically significant differences in conversation orientation due to the variable of achievement in favor of those above the average. There were no differences in conformity orientation. In terms of students' awareness of family communication styles, the study revealed that consensual family was the most frequent, with (152) recurrences. The protective family ranked second with (139) recurrences, followed by laissez-faire family. The least frequent family was pluralistic family and was repeated by (21).
