La Scala di Comunicazione genitori/adolescenti di Olson: l'applicazione ad un campione italiano

Aimed to verify the factorial structure of the Parent–Offspring Communication Scale (H. Barnes and D. Olson, 1982) on an Italian sample, and to verify possible intergenerational differences. The scale was administered to 11–22 yr olds and their parents. Factorial analysis was performed to identify the number of factors, while and analysis of variance of a between factor was carried out to verify intergenerational differences. The factorial analysis confirmed the presence of 2 factors: "Open family communication" and "Problems in family communication." The 1st factor focused on the ability to exchange messages in a clear and comprehensible way and on the existence of support and empathy. The 2nd factor refers to difficulty in sharing thoughts and opinions in the presence of discredit. Data showed that offspring have a more negative perception of their communication with their parents than their parents do with them. The scale provides a methodology that takes into consideration both the individual and family. The scale is therefore useful for research on family relationships because it allows for both an analysis of the quality of communication and a comparison of the different perceptions of family members, thus providing a family analysis of communicative processes.