IJRISS Logo

The Role of Communication in Family Dynamics

Authors

Vimala Govindaraju

Faculty Education, Language and Communication, UNIMAS (Malaysia)

Ivy Chang Swee Fong

Faculty Education, Language and Communication, UNIMAS (Malaysia)

Article Information

DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2026.100400416

Subject Category: Social science

Volume/Issue: 10/4 | Page No: 5833-5858

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-03-26

Accepted: 2026-04-01

Published: 2026-05-13

Abstract

This study investigates how communication practices shape family dynamics, emotional well-being, and relational cohesion in urban Malaysian families. Using Family Systems Theory and Family Communication Patterns Theory, the research analyzes the interplay between traditional cultural values and modern influences like digital communication. Findings suggest that while digital tools like WhatsApp enhance logistical connectivity, face-to-face interaction remains the primary driver of emotional security.

Keywords

Family Communication, Family Dynamics

Downloads

PDF JATS XML

References

1. Abdullah, N. H. (2014). The role of non-verbal communication in expressing emotions among Malaysian Chinese families. Asian Journal of Social Science, 42(3), 215–230. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Ariffin, R. (2019). Emotional expression in traditional Malay households: Challenges for adolescents. Journal of Family Development Studies, 5(2), 103–117. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Azmi, S. F., Ma’rof, A. A., & Abdullah, H. (2023). Culture and communication styles: Collectivism vs. individualism in Malaysia. Humanities & Social Sciences, 8(2), 24–37. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Beavin Bavelas, J., & Segal, L. (1982). Family systems theory: Background and implications. Journal of Communication, 32(3), 99–109. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Bowen, M. (1978). Family Therapy in Clinical Practice - The Murray Bowen Archives Project. The Murray Bowen Archives Project. https://murraybowenarchives.org/books/family-therapy-in-clinical-practice/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006, January). Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Brown, J. (1999). Bowen family systems theory and practice: Illustration and critique. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 20(2), 94–103. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1467-8438.1999.tb00363.x [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Child Mind Institute. (2021). Tips for communicating with your teen. https://childmind.org/article/tips-communicating-with-teen/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Chan, W. Y. (2020). Interethnic marriage and cultural negotiation in Malaysian Chinese-Indian families. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 51(1), 45–60. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Cheong, M., & Nair, S. (2022). Family cohesion and digital distraction: The Malaysian experience. Asian Journal of Communication, 32(2), 187–202. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Chong, S. K. (2017). Storytelling and role transmission in multigenerational Malaysian households. Pertanika Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities, 25(1), 99–112. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (4th ed.). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Creswell, J. W. (2023). Research Designs. Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 219.140. https://www.ucg.ac.me/skladiste/blog_609332/objava_105202/fajlovi/Creswell.pdf [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Coyne, S. M., Padilla-Walker, L. M., Fraser, A. M., Fellows, K., & Day, R. D. (2014). Media time = family time: Positive media use in families with adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 29(5), 663–688. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Fitzpatrick, M. A., & Ritchie, L. D. (1994). Communication schemata within the family. Human Communication Research, 20(3), 275–301. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2958.1994.tb00324.x [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Goldenberg, H., & Goldenberg, I. (2013). Family therapy: An overview (8th ed.). Cengage Learning. https://www.scirp.org/reference/referencespapers?referenceid=1188643 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. HelpGuide. (2023). Effective communication: Improving your interpersonal skills. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/relationships-communication/effective-communication.htm [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Hertlein, K. (2012). Digital Dwelling: Technology in Couple and Family Relationships. Family Relations, 61(3), 374–387. https://doi.org/10.2307/41495216 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Hopkins, J., & Tan, C. H. K. (2021). Choosing a social media platform: Genre and social ties in urban Malaysia. International Journal of Communication, 15, 1–21. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Idlibi, C., & Hatzakis, T. (2020). Quality matters more than quantity: Parent–child communication and academic performance. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1203. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01203 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Ismail, H., & Fong, C. H. (2018). Dialogic parenting among middle-class families in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian Journal of Child and Family Development, 6(1), 49–64. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Ismail, R., & Thomas, A. (2021). Third-culture communication in intercultural marriages in Malaysia. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 42(3), 223–240. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Jamaludin, R., & Md Yusof, A. (2010). Indirect communication in traditional Malay families: A qualitative perspective. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2(5), 44–53. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Khoo, E. Y. (2021). Intergenerational language shift and emotional connection in Mandarin-speaking Malaysian families. Asian Education and Development Studies, 10(2), 185–198. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Khoo, N. A. K. A. F., Osman, S., Daud, M. F., Kumar, J. A., & Kurniati, D. (2024). The implications of digital communication between parents and teachers from a teachers’ point of view. Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Studies, 24(1),184–195. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. KidsHealth. (2023). Communication and your teen. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/communicate.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Koerner, A. F., & Fitzpatrick, M. A. (2015). Family Communication Patterns Theory: A social cognitive approach. Communication Theory, 25(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/comt.12034 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. Koerner, A. F., & Fitzpatrick, M. A. (2002). Toward a Theory of Family Communication. Communication Theory, 12(1), 70–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.2002.tb00260.x [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Lee, J. Y., & Ramli, M. H. (2020). Code-switching in emotional discourse among bilingual Malaysian families. Language and Communication Quarterly, 8(3), 212–228. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Lim, S. Y. (2020). The impact of digital communication on emotional bonding in Malaysian families. Journal of Media and Society, 12(1), 58–73. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Livingstone, S., & Helsper, E. J. (2008). Parental mediation of children’s Internet use. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 52(4), 581–599. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

32. Maxwell, J. A. (2013). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach (3rd ed.). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

33. McDaniel, B. T., & Radesky, J. S. (2018). Technoference: Longitudinal associations between parent technology use, parenting stress, and child behavior problems. Pediatric Research, 84(2), 210–218. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

34. McHale, J. P., Crouter, A. C., & Whiteman, S. D. (2003). The family context of gender development in childhood and adolescence. Social Development, 12(1), 125–148. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

35. McLeod, B., & Renéau, H. (2022). A systematic review of parent–child communication and adolescent mental health. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 27(4), 248–256. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12562 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

36. Mental Health America. (2023). Family communication and mental wellness. https://mhanational.org/family-communication [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

37. Mesch, G. S. (2006). Family relations and the Internet: Exploring a family boundaries model. Journal of Family Communication, 6(2), 119–138. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

38. Mohd Nasir, S. S., & Ku Johari, K. S. (2024). Exploring the effects of family communication on adolescent emotional development. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(8). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

39. Nabi, R. L., Prestin, A., & So, J. (2013). Facebook friends with (health) benefits? Exploring social network site use and perceptions of social support, stress, and well-being. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16(10), 721–727. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

40. Nasir, S. S. M., & Johari, K. S. K. (2022). Exploring family communication gap from the perspectives of adolescents in Malaysia [PDF]. UKM Faculty of Education. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

41. Nasir, M. A., & Tahrir Adli, A. H. (2023). The relationship between family communication pattern and youth self-concept in rural Malaysia. Jurnal Pembangunan Sosial, 26, 49–69. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

42. Ng, S. M., & Yeo, M. H. (2020). Adolescent emotional health and family communication in Malaysia. Journal of Youth Studies Malaysia, 7(2), 111–129. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

43. Nichols, M. P. (2020). The Essentials of Family Therapy (7th ed.). Pearson. https://www.pearson.com/en-us/subject-catalog/p/essentials-of-family-therapy-the/P200000003153 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

44. Nikken, P., & Schols, M. (2015). How and why parents guide the media use of young children. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24, 3423–3435. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

45. Nuredayu Omar, C. S., Mustaffa, C. S., & Zariruddin, M. Z. F. (2007). A comparison of family communication and institutional communication among boarding school students and juveniles in Malaysia. Intercultural Communication Studies XVI (3). [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

46. Omar, N. et al. (2007). Communication patterns of Malay families and adolescent self-concept. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

47. Omar, N., Mustaffa, C. S., & Nordin, M. Z. F. (2007). Family communication among Malaysian boarding school students. Intercultural Communication Studies, 16(3), 45–60. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

48. Padilla-Walker, L. M., & Coyne, S. M. (2011). “Turn that thing off!” Parent and adolescent predictors of proactive media monitoring. Journal of Adolescence, 34(4), 705–715. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

49. Palinkas, L. A., Horwitz, S. M., Green, C. A., Wisdom, J. P., Duan, N., & Hoagwood, K. (2015). Purposeful sampling for qualitative data collection and analysis in mixed method implementation research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 42(5), 533-544. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

50. Ponte, C. S., & Silva, M. (2020). Families and social media use: The role of parents’ perceptions. Family Process, 59(1), 123–140. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12447 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

51. Rahim, M. R. (2018). Negotiating parental roles in dual-income Malaysian families. Family and Work Journal, 14(1), 91–107. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

52. Raja, N., & Pereira, J. (2018). Religious dialogue in Muslim-Christian Malaysian marriages. Southeast Asian Social Review, 11(2), 67–82. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

53. Ramasamy, K. (2017). Language maintenance and shift among Tamil youth in Malaysia. South Asian Linguistics Journal, 4(1), 33–49. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

54. Ray, W. (2018). Family Systems Theory: Core concepts and interaction patterns. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

55. Repetti, R. L., Taylor, S. E., & Seeman, T. E. (2002). Risky families: Family social environments and the mental and physical health of offspring. Psychological Bulletin, 128(2), 330–366. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.128.2.330 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

56. Schrodt, P., Witt, P. L., & Messersmith, A. S. (2008). A Meta-Analytical Review of Family Communication Patterns and their Associations with Information Processing, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Outcomes. Communication Monographs, 75(3), 248–269. https://doi.org/10.1080/03637750802256318 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

57. Sumari, M., Baharudin, D. F., Khalid, N. M., Ibrahim, N. H., & Tharbe, I. H. A. (2019). Family functioning in a collectivist culture of Malaysia: A qualitative study. The Family Journal, 27(3), 304–312. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

58. Syahril, R., Priatna, P., Hutomo, A., & Wulandari, S. (2024). The impact of technology on family communication patterns: A qualitative case study in urban Indonesia. Golden Ratio of Data in Summary, 4(2), 1004–1009. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

59. Tan, J. C., & Idris, F. (2019). Family meal times and screen time: Communication erosion in Malaysian homes. Malaysian Journal of Media Studies, 21(1), 70–85. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

60. Tee, M. S., & Abdul Rahman, N. (2021). Gendered experiences of emotional suppression in Malaysian families. Gender and Communication Studies, 9(3), 143–160. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

61. Titelman, P. (2014). Bowen Theory’s Secrets: Revealing the Hidden Life of Families. Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

62. UNICEF Malaysia. (2021). Supporting adolescent mental health during COVID-19. https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

63. Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. (2011). Online communication among adolescents: An integrated model of its attraction, opportunities, and risks. Journal of Adolescent Health, 48(2), 121–127. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

64. Vangelisti, A. L. (2013). The Routledge handbook of family communication. Routledge. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

65. Wright, J. C., & Douglas, L. (2024). Parent–adolescent communication online: Patterns and outcomes over 100 days. Child Development, 95(2), 321–335. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13982 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

66. Yusof, Z., & Samad, S. (2016). Mothers as communication mediators in Malaysian households. Family and Society Research, 3(4), 25–41. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

67. Zainudin, A. (2015). Re‑examining family communication patterns in Malaysian households: A structural equation modeling approach. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 211, 374–380. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

68. Zainudin, S. S. S., & Omar, S. Z. (2011). Family communication, sibling position and adolescents' sense of responsibility. World Applied Sciences Journal, 14, 74–80. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

69. Zhou, X., Tang, X., & Liu, Y. (2023). Family communication, internet use, and adolescent anxiety/depression: A Chinese cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 23, 1234.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15124-5 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

Metrics

Views & Downloads

Similar Articles