Family Communication

Kathleen M. Galvin (Ph.D. Northwestern University) is a Professor of Communication Studies at Northwestern University. She has co-authored or edited nine books with multiple editions, as well as multiple chapters and articles. She is one of the founders of the Family Communication Division of the National Communication Association and was awarded NCA’s Becker Award for Distinguished Service. Dawn O. Braithwaite (Ph.D. University of Minnesota) is Willa Cather Professor and Chair of Communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Braithwaite has authored or edited five books and over 125 articles. She received the National Communication Association’s Bernard J. Brommel Award for Family Communication and the Becker Award for service, was named 2014 Distinguished Scholar of Western States Communication Association, and is a Past President of NCA. Paul Schrodt (Ph.D. University of Nebraska-Lincoln) is the Philip J. and Cheryl C. Burguières Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Texas Christian University. He has published more than 100 journal articles and book chapters, and is the recipient of the National Communication Association’s Bernard J. Brommel Award for Family Communication and the Early Career Award in Interpersonal Communication. Carma L. Bylund (Ph.D. Northwestern University) is Associate Professor at the University of Florida. She is the author of 90 peer-reviewed journal articles and 20 book chapters, and co-edited the book Family Communication About Genetics: Theory and Practice. Bylund is a fellow of the American Academy of Communication in Healthcare.

1. What Is a Family? 2. What Is Family Communication? 3. Family Communication Theories 4. Communication Patterns and the Creation of Family Identity 5. Relational Maintenance Within Families 6. Intimacy Within Partnerships and Families 7. Communication and Family Roles and Types 8. Power, Influence, and Decision-Making in Families 9. Communication and Family Conflict 10. Communication and Family Developmental Stresses 11. Family Communication and Unpredictable Stress 12. Family Communication and Well-Being