Adolescents’ Perceptions of the Relative Importance of Selected Communication Skills in Their Positive Peer Relationships

Abstract

This study investigated the opinions of tenth grade adolescents with normal achievement concerning the relative importance of 14 communication skills in their positive peer relationships and explored whether or not the adolescents’ gender influenced their opinions about the importance of these skills. Results suggested that two skills were of relatively high importance, four skills were of relatively low importance, and the remaining eight skills were of intermediate or variable importance. Communication skills closely associated with characteristics of empathy and primarily addressee-focused were ranked as either relatively high or intermediate/variable in importance. Those skills related to figurative and metalinguistic language and considered primarily speaker-focused were ranked as relatively low in importance. Communication skills related to discourse management were ranked as being either relatively intermediate/variable or low in importance. No significant differences were found between the overall rankings of the male and female adolescents. Discussion of the findings relates the results to suggestions in the literature concerning communication skills thought to be important for successful adolescent peer relationships, raises directions for further research, and presents implications for intervention.