INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION STYLES AND SOCIAL INTERACTION SKILLS IN HIGH SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The development of social skills is essential in adolescence, due to their importance in communication, coexistence, and emotional well-being. The lack of these skills triggers difficulties in expressing ideas, emotions, and establishing healthy relationships. The study aimed to analyze the relationship between interpersonal communication styles and social interaction skills in high school students at an educational institution in Quito, Ecuador. It was based on the postpositivist paradigm, with a quantitative approach, a non-experimental cross-sectional design, and a descriptive and correlational scope. Through intentional non-probabilistic sampling, a total of 104 adolescent participants were reached. The Social Interaction Skills Questionnaire (CHIS) and the Interpersonal Communication Styles Questionnaire (CEI_A) were administered. The results reflected a moderate level of social skills, with strengths in conversational skills, emotional management, and problem solving, weaknesses in relationships with adults and emotional expression. In communication styles, assertiveness predominates at a moderate-high level. In turn, a positive correlation was observed between assertiveness and social skills (r = .604; p < .01), and a negative correlation between aggressiveness and basic social skills (r = –.234; p < .05).