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Kapatid, Usap Tayo: The Confiding Experience of Young Adult Siblings Belonging to the Different Types of Filipino Families
Ferreras, J.R.L. & Manzano, M.L. (2014). Kapatid, usap tayo: The confiding experience of young adult siblings belonging to the different types of Filipino families, Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis, University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication.
With the restructuring of the Filipino family over the years, it is important to look into how siblings and their relationship with each other have also evolved over time, and how these changes have affected how they communicate with each other, such as in their confiding experiences. Confiding is an act of confidently disclosing personal matters to individuals or groups, seeking some personal or social gratification of their needs in return.
This research aims to explore the confiding communication experiences of siblings aged 18 to 25 who belong to different types of Filipino families: nuclear family, broken family, transnational family, and single-parent family. In line with this, the researchers conducted focus interviews with eight (8) sibling pairs and one focus group discussion with eight (8) individuals who have young adult siblings – to provide backgrounds on their respective sibling relationships and their confiding experiences. In addition, key informant interviews with a parent and experts from the social sciences were also conducted to provide parental and academic perspectives to the study, respectively.
Guided by the Diagram of Sibling Relationship Theory, Social Penetration Theory and Uses and Gratifications Theory, Filipino young adult siblings were found to share a close relationship with each other, as assessed in terms of warmth/closeness, conflict, rivalry, and relative power/status among siblings. Several factors also come into play when it comes to sibling relationship, namely: family constellation, individual sibling characteristics, and individual relationship with parents. These determinants and factors were found to be interdependent with each other.
The researchers noted several manifestations of having a close sibling relationship – one of which is confiding. Siblings confide in each other from time to time about a range of topics/issues that they deem personal with the hopes of satisfying their need for comfort and guidance, among many others. Individuals who confide more personal topics/issues in their siblings signify that they have a closer relationship with each other. As found in the study, siblings who confide in each other, oftentimes, develop a closer and stronger relationship.
Key Words: Sibling Communication, Filipino Family, Confiding, Young Adult, Interpersonal Communication