Relationships between social skills and family relations in high school adolescents

Abstract Interpersonal relationships and social skills are crucial in adolescence. This study aimed to examine, through a non-probabilistic sample potential associations between adolescents’ social skills and family relationship patterns, characterized by higher levels of conflict and/or affection. A total of 424 adolescents (55.2% female), aged 14 to 18 years (M=16.06; SD=.79), participated. They were high school students from private schools in southern Brazil, with a predominance of first-year high school students (59.2%). The results indicated a high repertoire of social skills in Civility, a good repertoire of Social Deportment, and deficits in Empathy, Self-Control, Assertiveness, and Affective Approach. High conflict and high affectivity were observed in family relationships. The findings suggest that deficits in social skills may be associated with increased family conflict. Therefore, promoting healthier, more affectionate and skillful relationships is necessary to support adolescents’ quality of life, well-being, and healthy development.