Everyday communication between parents and adolescents in the USA and Russia

Abstract

This study examines everyday communication between adolescents (18–23 years old) and their parents in two cultures, Russia and the USA. Sixty US and 30 Russian students were asked to report a typical everyday conversation with a parent, and then answer questions as to how often it occurred, what they thought it revealed about their relationship, how satisfied they were with the relationship and why. The study found that both Russian and US students valued and were satisfied with their everyday communication with their parents, but there were differences in patterns of frequency, mode, content and tone of reported interactions. These differences were interpreted by the students to reflect different cultural conversational rules to show respect and affection for parents. For US students, conversations that were largely checking in, done on the phone, expressed direct feelings (even negative) and used humor/sarcasm/teasing showed respect. For Russian students, conversations that were on personal issues, done face-to-face, had statements of affection, and use of indirect talk to avoid confrontation showed respect. Additional conversational rules regarding public versus private talk, sharing feelings and the importance of introductions in getting business done were discovered.