Assessment of Communication Channel Skills Needed for Enhancing Relationship of Family Members in Enugu State

This work was designed to investigate the communication channel skills adopted by families for enhancing the relationship of family members in Enugu state. The study was specifically guided by 2 objectives. The design of the study was a descriptive survey study. The study was carried out in Enugu State. The population of the study is 360 families. This consisted of 180 families from Nsukka and 180 families from Isi-Uzo Local Governments Areas of Enugu state. Through the application of Taro Yamane formula, a sample size of 190 respondents was used for the study. The sample size consists of 95 families from Nsukka and 95 families from Isi-uzo Local Governments Areas of Enugu state. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled: questionnaire on communication channels for enhancing relationship of family members (QCCERFM). The questionnaire was divided into two parts namely: Parts A and B. Part A information on the personal data of the respondents while part B of the questionnaire was further divided into three clusters in line with the specific objectives of the study. The instrument was validated by three experts. The reliability for the instrument was analyzed using Cronbach Alpha which yielded a reliability coefficient of 0.79. A total of one hundred and ninety (190) copies of the questionnaire were administered by hand to the 190 heads of each household. One hundred and eighty-five (185) of the questionnaires was only filled and retrieved which yielded 95% return rate. The data collected from the respondents was analyzed using mean and standard deviation. In interpreting the analyzed data, items with means above 2.50 were regarded as needed while items with mean less than 2.50 were regarded as not needed. The study concludes that by recognizing and cultivating these communication channel skills, families can nurture understanding, trust, and harmony among their members, ultimately contributing to the well-being of individuals and the broader society. The study recommends that: educational institutions in Enugu State should incorporate family communication skills training into their curricula, so that benefiting students will be better equipped with vital interpersonal skills for healthier family relationships; and community leaders should organize regular workshops on effective communication within families, promoting harmonious relationships among community members and reducing family conflicts.