Successful negotiation of goal conflict between romantic partners predicts better goal outcomes during COVID-19: A mixed methods study.

Laura M Vowels,Katherine B Carnelley,Rachel R R Francois-Walcott

doi:10.1177/02654075211033341

Laura M Vowels, Katherine B Carnelley + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075211033341

Copy DOI

Abstract

When romantic partners’ personal goals conflict, this can negatively affect personal goal outcomes, such as progress. In a concurrent mixed methods study, we investigated whether goal conflict and negation of goal conflict were associated with goal outcomes (progress, confidence, motivation) and what strategies partners used during the COVID-19 pandemic to negotiate goal conflict. Survey participants (n = 200) completed a daily diary for a week and weekly longitudinal reports for a month and interview participants (n = 48) attended a semi-structured interview. Results showed that higher goal conflict was associated with lower goal outcomes, and successful negotiation of goal conflict was associated with better goal outcomes. Qualitative analyses identified three goal conflict negotiation strategies (compromise, integration, concession). Conversations focused on both practical and emotional needs and included respectful communication and space from conflict (timeout or avoidance). The mixed methods results suggest that goal conflict was low during the pandemic and participants were often able to negotiate goal conflict resulting in better goal outcomes.

Highlights

Because the data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined whether goal conflict and negotiation of goal conflict predicted perception of the pandemic affecting participants’ goals and asked participants in the qualitative interviews how they negotiated goal conflict during the pandemic
The results showed that on average, participants who experienced higher levels of goal conflict reported lower levels of goal progress and confidence but not motivation compared to participants who reported lower levels of goal conflict
We found that on days/weeks when participants reported more successful negotiation of goal conflict, they reported experiencing better goal outcomes compared to days/weeks with less successful negotiation of goal conflict

Summary

Objectives

Our aim was to add to the extant literature by examining whether low goal conflict and successful negotiation of goal conflict were associated with better goal outcomes across multiple time-points

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion