ANAK SEBAGAI MEDIATOR KOMUNIKASI KELUARGA DI TENGAH HUBUNGAN JARAK JAUH ANALISIS PADA FAMILY COMMUNICATION PATTERNS THEORY

Family communication patterns are often overlooked as a contributing factor to the high rate of divorce, alongside various internal and external factors, particularly in families experiencing Long Distance Marriage (LDM). In this context, children play a significant role as mediators in maintaining the cohesion of migrant worker families, as observed in Desa Senggreng, Kecamatan Sumberpucung, Kabupaten Malang, which serves as the setting of this study. Field observations indicate that several migrant worker families have been able to sustain harmonious relationships despite living apart for nearly a decade. This study aims to examine the role of children in mediating communication within long-distance families, based on communication patterns as conceptualized in the Family Communication Patterns Theory (FCPT). A qualitative descriptive approach with a phenomenological design was employed.. Research participants were categorized into three groups: key informants, supporting informants, and additional informants. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participant observation, and triangulation techniques. Data analysis followed the interactive model proposed by Matthew B. Miles, A. Michael Huberman, and Johnny Saldana (2014), which consists of data collection, data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing/verification. The findings reveal that LDM families in Senggreng Village maintain harmony through high conversation-oriented communication patterns, consistent with the perspective of Family Communication Patterns Theory, while strategically managing relational dynamics across all layers of Matouschka Dolls Theory to preserve family cohesion. Children not only transmit messages between parents but also interpret and regulate communication to sustain harmony. They perform several strategic roles, including filtering or modifying critical messages, stabilizing family emotions, and acting as contextual bridges by clarifying information to minimize potential misunderstandings. Although children serve as key agents in safeguarding the innermost layer of spiritual connectedness despite physical separation, future research is encouraged to further examine the influence of cultural background, social class, and more complex family dynamics.