Health Communication for Displaced Populations| Exploring Relationships Between Family Communication Patterns and Willingness to Communicate About Health Topics Among Vietnamese Americans

Abstract

Family communication patterns can affect health communication and ultimately health outcomes later in life. This study explored the effects of family communication patterns on health topics via an online survey of Vietnamese Americans (N = 850) aged 18 to 35 who have Vietnamese American immigrant parents. The study was guided by family communication patterns theory. Independent variables included conversation and conformity orientations; dependent variables included willingness to communicate about general, sexual, and mental health topics. Conversation orientation positively predicted willingness to communicate about general, sexual, and mental health topics. Conformity orientation positively predicted a willingness to communicate only about general health topics. The findings indicate a large need for education within families to increase the quality of family and health communication, particularly among first-generation immigrant families. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.