The Mediating Role of Assertiveness in the Association between Family Communication Patterns and Relationships with the Opposite Sex among Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Abstract Background: Considering the expansion of friendship between boys and girls during adolescence as abnormal behavior in our society and the important role of communication patterns in the family, it is important to investigate the effect of mediating variables on this social phenomenon. Objectives: The present research has investigated the model of communication with the opposite sex among teenage girls in Birjand city under the influence of communication patterns in the family and the mediating variable of assertiveness. Methods: This is a correlational study. The sample size was 360 female students of Birjand city. The sampling method was multi-stage cluster random sampling. The data collection tool was a set of questionnaires. We use correlational analysis methods and Structural Equation Model to interpret data. Results: The fitted model showed that family communication patterns have a significant effect on the relationship with the opposite sex through mediating variables. Conclusions: The communication pattern of dialogue alone does not play a role in the relationship with the opposite sex, but with increasing assertiveness; it decreases the relationship with the opposite sex.