Conflict Resolution Styles in Family Subsystems and Adolescent Romantic Relationships

The purpose of the present study is to examine how conflict resolution styles between one family dyad is related to other family dyads and how conflict resolution styles within these family dyads are related to conflict resolution styles in one relationship outside the family—adolescents' romantic relationships. Late adolescents (n = 217) were asked to report their perceptions of three resolution styles used in interparent, mother–adolescent, father–adolescent, sibling, and romantic couple conflicts. Based on the cases with complete data (n = 163), path analyses indicated that both direct and indirect relationships exist between these dyadic relationships: (1) Resolution styles utilized in the interparent subsystem were found to have a direct relationship with mother–adolescent and father–adolescent resolution and an indirect relationship with sibling and romantic couple resolution. (2) Mother–adolescent and father–adolescent resolution were found to have a direct relationship with sibling and romantic couple resolution. (3) Sibling resolution was found to have a direct relationship with romantic couple resolution for negative resolution styles, but not for the positive resolution style of compromise.     

Family and Individual Predictors of Late Adolescents' Romantic Relationships

The present study examined parent–adolescent conflict and late adolescents' attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms as predictors of late adolescents' romantic relationships. Questionnaires assessing parent–adolescent conflict resolution behaviors, adolescent–romantic partner conflict resolution behaviors, and adolescent attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms were completed by 256 college students (198 females and 58 males). Using hierarchical regression analyses, statistical models were tested wherein adolescent–romantic partner conflict resolution behaviors were regressed on mother–adolescent and father–adolescent conflict resolution behaviors and adolescents' attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms. All four predictor variables explained significant portions of the variance in adolescent–romantic partner conflict resolution behaviors; however, different predictors were found for females and males. For females, mother–adolescent and father–adolescent conflict resolution strategies and adolescent attachment anxiety were significant predictors. In contrast, father–adolescent conflict resolution behaviors and adolescent depressive symptoms were significant predictors for males. Findings highlight the differential role of familial and individual attributes in female and male adolescents' romantic relationship functioning.     

Middle and Late Adolescents' Conflict Resolution Skills with Siblings: Associations with Interparental and Parent–Adolescent Conflict Resolution

The present study examined whether conflict resolution skills utilized in the interparental and parent–adolescent relationships were related to adolescents' conflict resolution skills with siblings. The associations between interparental, parent–adolescent, and sibling conflict resolution skills were compared for middle and late adolescents. Middle adolescents (N = 89) and late adolescents (N = 90) reported their perceptions of attack and compromise conflict resolution styles for both family members within a dyadic relationship. Differences were found between middle and late adolescents regarding their perceptions of attack and compromise resolution styles utilized in family dyadic relationships. Path analysis results indicated that the influence of interparental conflict resolution on sibling conflict resolution was mediated by mom–adolescent and dad–adolescent resolution for both middle and late adolescents. Theoretical and empirical implications of these findings are discussed here.