Examining the longitudinal relations among adolescents' conflict management with parents and conflict frequency
Missotten,Lies Christine Luyckx,Koen Branje,Susan J. T. Hale,William W. Meeus,W.H.J.
Missotten,Lies Christine
Luyckx,Koen
Branje,Susan J. T.
Hale,William W.
Meeus,W.H.J.
Abstract
Parent-adolescent conflicts are not necessarily detrimental for adolescent development. The way adolescents handle conflicts with parents is of crucial importance. The present five-wave longitudinal study (N = 1313) focuses on how adolescents' conflict management behaviors and conflict frequency with parents are interrelated over time. Four conflict management behaviors were investigated: positive problem solving, withdrawal, engagement, and compliance. Using cross-lagged panel analysis, results for conflict behaviors toward mothers indicated that conflict frequency predicted more engagement, withdrawal and compliance, and less positive problem solving one year later. Positive problem solving predicted fewer conflicts and maladaptive conflict management behaviors over time, pointing to the potential protective role of positive problem solving against a conflictual climate and maladaptive management behaviors. Results were largely replicated in the father model. Ancillary multi-group analyses revealed no moderation by gender or age. Suggestions and implications for theory and practice are discussed. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Description
Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Research Projects
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Journal Issue
Keywords
Conflict management, Conflicts, Adolescence, Cross-lagged analyses, Parent-adolescent relationship, RESOLUTION STYLES, DEVELOPMENTAL-CHANGES, DISAGREEMENTS, METAANALYSIS, PERCEPTIONS, ADJUSTMENT, STABILITY, AUTONOMY, IMPACT
Citation
Missotten, L C, Luyckx, K, Branje, S J T, Hale, W W & Meeus, W H J 2017, 'Examining the longitudinal relations among adolescents' conflict management with parents and conflict frequency', Personality and Individual Differences, vol. 117, pp. 37-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2017.05.037