Family Dynamics: The Role of Emotional Expressiveness and Social Connectedness in Problem-Solving

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationships between family emotional expressiveness, social connectedness, and family problem-solving abilities.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed with a sample of 310 participants. Data were collected using the Family Assessment Device, Family Expressiveness Questionnaire, and Social Connectedness Scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and linear regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 27.

Results: Descriptive statistics revealed mean scores of 3.45 (SD = 0.67) for Family Problem-Solving, 4.12 (SD = 0.89) for Family Emotional Expressiveness, and 4.56 (SD = 0.78) for Social Connectedness. Significant positive correlations were found between Family Problem-Solving and Family Emotional Expressiveness (r = 0.58, p < .001), and Social Connectedness (r = 0.62, p < .001). The regression model was significant (F(2, 307) = 148.85, p < .001) with R^2 = 0.49, indicating that 49% of the variance in Family Problem-Solving was explained by Family Emotional Expressiveness (B = 0.38, β = 0.42, p < .001) and Social Connectedness (B = 0.47, β = 0.49, p < .001).

Conclusion: The study highlights the significant roles of family emotional expressiveness and social connectedness in enhancing family problem-solving capabilities. Both factors were found to be positively correlated with and predictive of effective family problem-solving, suggesting that fostering open emotional communication and strong social ties can significantly contribute to family resilience and functionality.