Conflict Coping Research Articles

Promoting Best Practice in Assessment and Intervention: The Challenges of Working in Times of Cutbacks and Change

Promoting Best Practice in Assessment and Intervention: The Challenges of Working in Times of Cutbacks and Change

Forgiveness or Striking Back? The Influence of Social Interaction on Adolescents' Conflict Coping Strategy

Based on social learning theory, this study aimed at providing a better understanding of the influence of social interaction on adolescents' conflict coping strategy. This study used the data from the Taiwan Educational Panel Survey (N=8717) to test the unique contribution of religious involvement, parent-child interaction, teacher-student interaction on adolescents' conflict coping strategy when they encountered an interpersonal offense in school. Findings showed that religious involvement, being physically hurt by father, being understood by father, and positive teacher-student interaction could increase the possibility of positive conflict coping strategy. And being verbally hurt by mother and negative teacher-student interaction would decrease the possibility of positive conflict coping strategy. Based on these results, implications for research and practice were discussed.

Mother-Grandmother and Mother-Father Coparenting Across Time among Mexican-Origin Adolescent Mothers and Their Families.

The current study examined mothers' reports of coparenting relationship dynamics (i.e., conflict, communication) within and between mother-father and mother-grandmother subsystems from 10 months post-partum to 5 years post-partum among 178 Mexican-origin teen mothers (M age = 16.78 years; SD = 1.00). Specifically, within subsystems, more frequent mother-father coparenting conflict was associated with less frequent mother-father coparenting communication from 10 months to 5 years post-partum, and more frequent mother-father coparenting communication was associated with less frequent mother-father conflict from 3 to 4 years post-partum. Further, more frequent mother-grandmother coparenting communication was associated with less frequent mother-grandmother conflict from 10 months to 2 years post-partum. Regarding relations across subsystems, more frequent mother-father coparenting conflict was associated with more frequent mother-grandmother conflict from 10 to 24 months post-partum, as well as from 3 to 4 years post-partum. Findings have implications for future interventions focused on coparenting relationships within the context of adolescent parenthood.

Supplemental Material for Within-Family Processes: Interparental and Coparenting Conflict and Child Adjustment

Supplemental Material for Within-Family Processes: Interparental and Coparenting Conflict and Child Adjustment

자아분화가 심리적 안녕에 미치는 영향 : 가족갈등대처행동, 기본 심리적 욕구 만족의 매개역할

자아분화가 심리적 안녕에 미치는 영향 : 가족갈등대처행동, 기본 심리적 욕구 만족의 매개역할

Longitudinal Interrelations between Dyadic Coping and Coparenting Conflict in Couples

During the past few decades, research has increasingly addressed the associations between the interparental relationship and coparenting. However, limited headway has been made to systematically examine the longitudinal and bidirectional effects in this link. In the present study we tested whether change in couples’ dyadic coping predicted the trajectory of coparenting conflict over 1 year, or the reciprocal pathway, drawing data from a RCT intervention study in 150 parental couples. Couples were randomly assigned to (1) a couple-focused program (CCET), (2) a parenting training (Triple P), or (3) an untreated control group. The parents’ perceptions of their dyadic coping skills and coparenting conflict were assessed by means of questionnaires 2 weeks prior to and 2 weeks after completion of the treatment, at 6-month, and at 1-year follow-up. Results indicated that for the total sample, independent of treatment, increase in mothers’, but not fathers’, reports of dyadic coping from pre- to post-assessment predicted their own decrease in coparenting conflict over time, after controlling for both partners’ baseline levels, average age of children per family, and problematic behavior of one target child reported by parents. In contrast, decrease in coparenting conflict from pre- to post-assessment was not related with the trajectory of dyadic coping. This pattern of findings suggests that enhancement of dyadic coping skills in parents may be a promising means to promote the parents’ intimate relationship and, as a result, their supportive coparenting.

Role of Marital Adjustment in Associations Between Romantic Attachment and Coparenting

ObjectiveA family systems framework was used to examine the reciprocal influences of parents' romantic attachment security, marital adjustment, and the coparenting alliance.BackgroundResearch indicates that adult attachment strategies are predictive of adult romantic relationships, but there is less evidence linking adult romantic attachment to the ability to effectively coparent. Furthermore, much of the prior coparenting literature has focused on direct paths and has not accounted for mutual influence within parental dyads, despite an increased awareness of the interdependence among familial roles and a push to understand familywide dynamics.MethodA community sample of 86 heterosexual couples with a residential child between 8 and 11 years of age completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale, and the Coparenting Scale as part of a larger study on family processes in middle childhood. Multilevel models were conducted utilizing the actor‐partner interdependence model.ResultsCompared to their low attachment anxiety counterparts, spouses with higher attachment anxiety and avoidance reported lower levels of marital adjustment, less coparenting cooperation, and more coparenting conflict. Findings indicated that marital adjustment mediates the relationship between romantic attachment style and perceptions of coparenting.ConclusionResults highlight the benefit of conceptualizing parental attachment, marital, and coparental subsystems within a systemic framework and suggest that a healthy marital relationship is an important intervening factor that helps explain links between attachment security and the coparenting alliance.ImplicationsFindings underscore the importance of evaluating and treating multiple levels of the family system and suggest that therapeutic treatment of the marital relationship may be associated with a healthier coparenting dynamic.

항공사 지상직원의 갈등, 갈등대처전략과 구성원 행동 간의 구조적 관계-소진의 매개효과를 중심으로

항공사 지상직원의 갈등, 갈등대처전략과 구성원 행동 간의 구조적 관계-소진의 매개효과를 중심으로

Effects of Self-differentiation of Remarried Couples, Marital Intimacy, Marital Conflict Coping Style on Marital Satisfaction

Effects of Self-differentiation of Remarried Couples, Marital Intimacy, Marital Conflict Coping Style on Marital Satisfaction

결혼이주여성을 위한 통합예술치료 프로그램이 자기유능감 및 갈등대처방식에 미치는 효과

결혼이주여성을 위한 통합예술치료 프로그램이 자기유능감 및 갈등대처방식에 미치는 효과

The Effects of Parent-Adolescent Communication and Adolescent Optimism on Conflict Coping Styles

Objective The main purpose of this study was to examine the direct and indirect effects of parent-adolescent communication (through adolescent optimism) on adolescent conflict-coping styles. Methods A total of 337 high school students participated in this study. They completed questionnaires about communications with their parents and their own optimism and conflict-coping styles. Data were analyzed using t-tests, correlations, and SEM. Results Neither father- nor mother-adolescent communication had direct effects on adolescent conflict-coping styles. However, mother-adolescent communication had an indirect effect on conflict-coping styles, mediated by adolescent optimism. Adolescents who had open communication with mothers displayed higher levels of optimism, which led to more positive conflict-coping styles. In addition, multigroup analyses revealed that there were significant gender differences in direct and indirect effects. For boys, mother-adolescent communication directly influenced adolescent conflict-coping styles; however, father-adolescent communication did not directly or indirectly affect adolescent conflict-coping styles. For girls, neither father- nor mother-adolescent communication had direct effects on conflict-coping styles; only optimism had a significant effect on conflict-coping styles. Conclusion The findings from this study suggest that communication with mothers and fathers have different effects on adolescents’ conflict-coping styles. These findings have implications for future research and practice by emphasizing the importance of parent-adolescent communication and optimism in designing conflict-coping programs for adolescents. Keywords: parent-adolescent communication, optimism, conflict coping styles

Trajectories of Developmental Functioning Among Children of Adolescent Mothers: Factors Associated With Risk for Delay.

Children of adolescent mothers are at risk for developmental delays. Less is known about the heterogeneity in these children's developmental trajectories, and factors associated with different patterns of development. This longitudinal study used latent class growth analysis (LCGA) to identify distinct trajectories in children of Mexican-origin adolescent mothers (N = 204). Three distinct groups emerged: (a) a Delayed/Decreasing Functioning group, (b) an At-Risk/Recovering Functioning group, and (c) a Normative/Stable Functioning group. Children with Delayed/Decreasing Functioning were more likely than those with Normative/Stable Functioning to have families with lower income, fewer learning materials at home, and adolescent mothers with more depressive symptoms and greater coparental conflict with adolescents' mother figures. The results contribute to knowledge about factors associated with risk of delay.

Parenting Style, Parental Adjustment, and Co-Parental Conflict: Differential Predictors of Child Psychosocial Adjustment Following Divorce

Parents’ adjustment, co-parenting conflict, and parenting style are often intervention targets for parents following divorce. However, little is known about how these three aspects together relate to child outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine how parent adjustment (distress and anger), parenting conflict, and parenting style (laxness and over-reactivity) predict child internalising, externalising, and prosocial behaviours. Participants were a community sample of 109 divorced parents with a child aged 4–17 years. Results showed that increased parental distress and co-parent conflict predicted increased child emotional and behavioural problems; and increased lax parenting also predicted increased externalising behaviour problems. However, greater prosocial behaviour was predicted only by lower lax parenting. The results highlight the differential impact of parenting factors on child outcomes following divorce and have implications for the content and tailoring of interventions for divorced parents.

Structural Relationship between Forgiveness, Commitment, Negative Conflict Coping Styles, and Marital Satisfaction

Structural Relationship between Forgiveness, Commitment, Negative Conflict Coping Styles, and Marital Satisfaction

Coparenting after marital dissolution and children's mental health: a systematic review

ObjectiveResearch has shown that coparenting is a vital family mechanism in predicting mental health in children and adolescents. Considering the increasing prevalence of marital dissolution in Western societies, the objective of this systematic review was to summarize the key results of empirical studies that tested the association between mental health of children and coparenting after marital dissolution. Data sourceThe studies were obtained from three databases (PsycInfo, PubMed, and Web of Knowledge), published between January 2000 and October 2014. The titles, abstracts, and key words of the generated citations were independently reviewed by two investigators to consensually select the articles that met the inclusion criteria. Articles that used psychometrically valid tools to measure at least one mental health indicator and at least one dimension of coparenting in samples with divorced parents were included in the review. Data synthesisOf the 933 screened articles, 11 met the inclusion criteria. Significant positive associations were found between coparental conflict and behavioral problems and symptoms of anxiety, depression, and somatization. Significant positive associations were also found between other specific dimensions of coparenting (coparental support, cooperation, and agreement), overall mental health, self-esteem, and academic performance. ConclusionsThe integrated analysis of these studies suggests that coparenting is a key mechanism within the family system for the prediction of child mental health after marital dissolution, and thus, it is recommended that pediatricians, psychologists, and other health professionals consider coparenting as a psychosocial variable for children's mental health assessment and diagnosis.

Personal agency in children

The aim of this study is to develop a multidimensional measure for assessing children’s personal agency to handle parental conflict through their coping self-efficacy beliefs (Bandura, 1997). Coping self-efficacy beliefs are individuals’ perceived ability to motivate themselves, access cognitive resources, and perform the actions required to take control of stressful situations. This study examines the psychometric properties and validation of the newly created Parental Conflict Coping Self-Efficacy Scale (PCC-SES). The study was based on 663 children, in grades 5 and 7 and their mothers. An exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis through structural equation modeling supported the structure of the PCC-SES. The PCC-SES’s structure was facilitated by three global strategies, namely Proactive Behavior (problem solving and seeking social support), Avoiding Maladaptive Cognitions (avoiding preoccupation, avoiding self-blame and distancing) and Avoiding Maladaptive Behavior (avoiding aggression and avoiding overinvolvement).

Mary Richmond's Retail Method in Treating Divorcing Parents with High Conflict

Mary Richmond's Retail Method in Treating Divorcing Parents with High Conflict Brenda J. Barnwell Mark Stone Abstract Mary Richmond’s retail method of reform provoked development of a focused treatment program for high conflict divorce designed to (1) promote cohesion of the self, (2) reduce expressed parental conflict, and (3) provide a better outcome than the current standard service model. A Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design was implemented to test the effectiveness of this approach with Bowen’s family systems theory and Kohut’s theory of self psychology. The results suggest people who attended eight sessions of the focused treatment group experienced a greater sense of self cohesion with reduced co-parenting conflict. Full Text: PDF DOI: 10.15640/jssw.v4n2a3

INFLUENCE OF PARENT-ADOLESCENT CONFLICT FREQUENCY ON ADOLESCENT FAMILY SATISFACTION AND SELF-SATISFACTION IN CHINA: CONFLICT COPING TACTICS AS MODERATORS.

Existing studies have found that parent-adolescent conflict frequency and conflict coping tactics influence adolescent family satisfaction and self-satisfaction under the background of Western culture. However, due to differences between Eastern and Western cultures, it is unknown whether previous results of the Western population can be extended to Chinese adolescents. The present study investigated grade differences in parent-adolescent conflict frequency and conflict coping tactics and examined the moderating effects of conflict coping tactics on the relationships between conflict frequency and adolescent family satisfaction and between conflict frequency and adolescent self-satisfaction. Chinese adolescents in Grades 7, 8, 10, and 11 (N = 524) completed measures on conflict frequency, conflict coping tactics, family satisfaction, and self-satisfaction. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and structural equation model analyses found, first, that conflict frequency decreased with grade level. For coping tactics, conciliation, avoidance, and assertion behaviors increased with grade level. Second, conflict frequency was negatively related to family satisfaction regardless of conciliation and avoidance tactics. By contrast, conflict frequency was negatively related to self-satisfaction when high conciliation and high avoidance behaviors were practiced. In addition, at low conflict frequency conciliation was positively associated with self-satisfaction and was not significant at high conflict frequency.

Chinese adolescents' coping tactics in a parent-adolescent conflict and their relationships with life satisfaction: the differences between coping with mother and father.

The present study examined the differences of conflict coping tactics in adolescents' grade and gender and parents' gender and explored the relationships among conflict frequency, conflict coping tactics, and life satisfaction. A total of 1874 Chinese students in grades 7, 8, 10, and 11 completed surveys on conflict frequency, coping tactics, and life satisfaction. The results obtained by MANOVA suggested that the adolescents' reported use of assertion and avoidance with either mothers or fathers increased from Grade 7 to Grade 8 and did not change from Grade 8 to Grade 11 in parent-adolescent conflicts. The results of paired sample T-tests indicated that adolescents used more conciliation in Grade 7, more conciliation and assertion in Grade 8, and more conciliation and less avoidance in Grade 10 and 11 to cope with mothers than with fathers in parent-adolescent conflicts. Boys used more conciliation and less avoidance, while girls used more conciliation, assertion and third-party intervention to cope with mothers than with fathers in parent-adolescent conflicts. The results of the hierarchical regression analysis indicated the significance of the primary effects of conflict frequency and coping tactics on life satisfaction. Specifically, conflict frequency negatively predicted life satisfaction. Conciliation positively and avoidance negatively predicted life satisfaction when adolescents coped with either mothers or fathers in parent-adolescent conflicts. Assertion negatively predicted life satisfaction when adolescents coped with fathers. The moderating effects of conflict coping tactics on the relationship between parent-adolescent conflict frequency and life satisfaction were not significant.

The Impact of the Causality between Work–Family Conflict, Well–Being, and Leisure Coping Strategies on Tour Professionals

ABSTRACTThis study is to investigate the impact of the causality between work–family conflict (WFC), well-being, and leisure coping strategies on tour professionals, and to verify the regulating role played by leisure coping strategies. The results suggest that when a tour professional experiences a high degree of WFC, perceived well-being is reduced. Applying leisure coping strategies affects the well-being of tour professionals to a high degree, and significantly regulates the relationship between WFC and well-being. To emphasize the role of internal marketing, this study concludes that leisure coping strategies must incorporate measures that provide direct benefits to tour professionals.