Interpersonal Communication Competence: The Role of Sex, Parenting Styles, and Attachment Styles

Abstract

An individual’s capability and capacity for interpersonal communication is heavily dependent on environmental, personal, and social factors. This study explores the effects of sex, parenting styles experienced, and attachment styles on the interpersonal communication competence of adolescents. A sample of 240 senior high school students from De La Salle University Integrated School Manila was selected through convenience sampling. Results reveal that adolescent senior high school students are above average in overall interpersonal communication competence. They are excellent in the emotional support dimension of ICC and above average in the initiation, negative assertion, disclosure, and conflict management dimensions. Sex, parenting styles of mothers and fathers, and attachment style have no significant effect on the initiation and negative assertion dimensions of ICC. However, sex has significant effects on the emotional support and conflict management dimensions of ICC. Data show that females are significantly better at emotional support and conflict management regardless of attachment style, except for adolescents with an anxious attachment style, where males are better than females at emotional support and conflict management. On the other hand, only sex has a significant effect on the overall ICC of adolescent senior high school students.