Family Conflict Resolution Research Articles

Adolescent Adjustment: The Hazards of Conflict Avoidance and the Benefits of Conflict Resolution

Current literature provides strong support for the relationship between perceived family conflict (i.e., disagreements, expressed anger, and/or aggression) and adolescent maladjustment (i.e., internalizing, externalizing, and/or physiological symptoms). Moreover, research indicates that successful conflict resolution (i.e., “behaviors that regulate, reduce, or terminate conflicts,” Davies & Cummings, 1994) decreases the adverse impact family conflict has on children. Many researchers have treated conflict resolution as a dichotomous variable (e.g., resolved or unresolved), but there may be different approaches to conflict resolution. Only one dimensional measure of conflict resolution has been developed in the literature, and it has only been used in a sample of young adults. Recent research has also underscored the importance of assessing conflict avoidance (i.e., indirect efforts to alter stressful situations). Unfortunately, there are limited studies on conflict avoidance and its impact on psychological adjustment, none of which use an adolescent sample. The primary purpose of the current study was to determine whether the relationship between conflict resolution, conflict avoidance, and adjustment would extend to adolescents using a dimensional measure of conflict resolution. Second, the current study aimed to develop and pilot a dimensional measure of conflict avoidance. One hundred two adolescents between the ages of 14 and 19 were recruited from four parochial high schools in a large Midwestern city. The participants completed self-report measures regarding perceived family conflict, conflict resolution, avoidant behaviors, and psychological adjustment. Results paralleled the findings of previous research in a young adult sample regarding the impact of conflict resolution on adjustment. In addition, after considering perceived family conflict, the presence of conflict avoidance added significantly to the prediction of adolescents’ psychological symptoms. These findings suggest that assessing for conflict avoidance in addition to family conflict and conflict resolution may have important implications for the screening and assessment of adolescent psychological health.

Valoración de resultados y perfil psicosocial de un programa de rehabilitación de personas con drogodependencias

This research group carried out an evaluation of data collected over the last 3 years, from the drug addiction rehabilitation program Pro- yecto Hombre Malaga. The sample consisted of 96 participants from 18 to 56 years old ( M =31.31, DT =14.20), i.e., 83.3% male and 16.7% female. The rate of success, those who finished the therapeutic program successfully, was 22.9%. The various psychosocial characteristics were studied, and related to the likelihood of therapeutic success, dropouts and relapse back into addiction. Details of the results and statistical analysis of the personal characteristics, family and consumer products are shown. The principal factors related to dropouts were found to be: poly-drug use, physical and emotional abuse and especially, frequent family conflicts. Therapeutic guidelines are suggested which improve the overall results and help resolve family conflicts that could be an important factor for relapse and for dropping out of the program.

Big brother is watching you: eavesdropping to resolve family conflicts

Adult animals can eavesdrop on behavioral interactions between potential opponents to assess their competitive ability and motivation to contest resources without interacting directly with them. Surprisingly, eavesdropping is not yet considered as an important factor used to resolve conflicts between family members. In this study, we show that nestling barn owls (Tyto alba) competing for food eavesdrop on nestmates' vocal interactions to assess the dominance status and food needs of opponents. During a first training playback session, we broadcasted to singleton bystander nestlings a simulated vocal interaction between 2 prerecorded individuals, 1 relatively old (i.e., senior) and 1 younger nestling (i.e., junior). One playback individual, the responder, called systematically just after the initiator playback individual, hence displaying a higher hunger level. To test whether nestlings have eavesdropped on this interaction, we broadcasted the same prerecorded individuals separately in a subsequent playback test session. Nestlings vocalized more rapidly after former initiators' than responders' calls and they produced more calls when the broadcasted individual was formerly a junior initiator. They chiefly challenged vocally juniors and initiators against whom the likelihood of winning a vocal contest is higher. Owlets, therefore, identified the age hierarchy between 2 competitors based on their vocalizations. They also memorized the dynamics of competitors' previous vocal interactions, and used this information to optimally adjust signaling level once interacting with only 1 of the competitor. We conclude that siblings eavesdrop on one another to resolve conflicts over parental resources.

Corticosterone Promotes Scramble Competition Over Sibling Negotiation in Barn Owl Nestlings (Tyto alba)

In species with parental care, siblings compete for access to food resources. Typically, they vocally signal their level of need to each other and to parents, and jostle for the position in the nest where parents deliver food. Although food shortage and social interactions are stressful, little is known about the effect of stress on the way siblings resolve the conflict over how food is shared among them. Because glucocorticoid hormones mediate physiological and behavioral responses to stressors, we tested whether corticosterone, the main glucocorticoid in birds, modulates physical and vocal signaling used by barn owl siblings (Tyto alba) to compete for food. Although corticosterone-implanted (cort-) nestlings and placebo-nestlings were similarly successful to monopolize food, they employed different behavioral strategies. Compared to placebo-nestlings, cort-individuals reduced the rate of vocally communicating with their siblings (but not with their parents) but were positioned closer to the nest-box entrance where parents predictably deliver food. Therefore, corticosterone induced nestlings to increase their effort in physical competition for the best nest position at the expense of investment in sib–sib communication without modifying vocal begging signals directed to parents. This suggests that in the barn owl stress alters nestlings’ behavior and corticosterone could mediate the trade-off between scramble competition and vocal sib–sib communication. We conclude that stressful environments may prevent the evolution of sib–sib communication as a way to resolve family conflicts peacefully.

Sex differences in patterns of relations between family interactions and depressive symptoms in adolescents

AimTo gain insight into the relations between protective/risk family interactions and depressive symptoms in adolescent boys and girls.MethodA self-reported cross-sectional survey was conducted on a representative sample of 1191 secondary school students (617 girls and 574 boys) aged from 14 to 19 years, with a median of 16, from all secondary schools in the Primorsko-goranska County, Croatia in January and February 2010. Students reported their depressive symptoms, perceptions about the relationship with their mother and father, family activities, and parents’ conflict resolution strategies. Data were analyzed by hierarchical multiple regression to calculate the effects of family supportive and harmful interactions on depressive symptoms in girls and boys.ResultsDepressive symptoms were reported often and very often by 19.1% of girls and 15.8% of boys. Girls’ assessment of the family relations was significantly more positive than boys’, including the assessment of family activities, constructive family conflict resolution, or father’s and mother’s warmth and affection. Multiple correlation analysis revealed that the examined family variables accounted for 16.3% of the variance of depressive symptoms in boys and for 17.2% in girls. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed a difference in the relation of family variables and depressive symptoms between boys and girls. Depressive symptoms in girls were more linked to the lack of protective family factors (9.9% of the explained variance in girls vs 5.5% in boys), while depressive symptoms in boys were more linked to the existence of harmful family factors (10.8% of the explained variance in boys vs 7.3% in girls).ConclusionFamily activities and the father's warmth and affection have a higher significance for girls than for boys, while destructive parental conflict and the mother's aggression and hostility are equally significant for both girls and boys. These results indicate the targets for family-based preventive and intervention programs for depression in adolescents.

Family conflicts and conflict resolution regarding food choices

ABSTRACTPrevious studies on family decision‐making show that not only parents but also children participate actively in and achieve influence on the decision process, for instance during food buying. When decision‐making includes several active participants, conflicts may occur, but not much research deals with food‐related conflicts, conflict resolutions or specific influence techniques with a focus on parents and tweens in family decision‐making. This article focuses on parents and tweens' joint decision processes in evaluation and choice of food, specifically conflicts and conflict resolution. Assumptions are explored in an empirical study of Danish families with children. The main results show that during food buying family communication is open for opinion statements and discussions between parents and their tweens. However, not everything is that overt in family communication. One of the most interesting findings and a new insight is tweens' use of the help technique with the aim of easing family life. It is unclear whether parents are aware of this ‘under cover’ influence and just accept tacitly or whether this method of influence is unrealised.Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Argumentative strategies for conflict management and resolution in Italian and Swiss families

This study aims to analyze how family members engage themselves in resolving differences of opinion during everyday interactions. In particular, we focus on the argumentative strategies used by parents during dinner conversations at home with their children. Within a data corpus based on video-recordings of family dinnertime interactions, two different excerpts of argumentative discussions among parents and children are presented and qualitatively analyzed. Our analytical approach includes the model of Critical Discussion as the general framework to investigate the family's strategies for conflict management and resolution in different cultures. The results show two specific argumentative strategies adopted by parents with their children: the use of ironic comments, and the admonition of the parent's authority. Besides, differences in the argumentative style between Italian and Swiss families are highlighted.

A família do direito e a família no direito: a legitimidade das relações sociais entre a lei e a Justiça

No direito de família brasileiro, a legitimidade de certos aspectos das relações de família deslocou-se da norma para o âmbito das decisões judiciais. Atualmente, as questões que cercam o casamento, a separação, o divórcio, a guarda dos filhos, entre tantas outras, antes prescritas pelo Código Civil, encontraram no Judiciário um espaço institucionalizado de definição do que é a família. Tal fato fez com que a questão social, antes enraizada nos textos legais referentes à família, ganhasse novos contornos em face da procura e da oferta de serviços na Justiça. Neste artigo, as consequências dessa transformação do direito de família serão analisadas sob dois ângulos. O primeiro diz respeito à estrutura de nosso direito civil no que concerne às normas que regem as relações de família. O segundo está relacionado com a organização social da justiça, ou seja, a configuração da demanda judicial no município de São Paulo, em função das características socioeconômicas do público que procura os tribunais para a resolução de conflitos familiares de natureza civil.

Family Conflict Resolution: Its Measurement and Relationship with Family Conflict and Psychological Adjustment

Based on family conflict literature, there is a need for the development of a measure of family conflict resolution. This study aimed to develop items based on established instruments and rationally construct new items in order to pilot a measure of family conflict resolution. Preliminary reliability and validity data were obtained using a sample of young adults. Results indicate that the proposed measure of conflict resolution produced valid factor analytic solutions, adequate internal consistency, and construct validity. The results of this study also revealed avoidance of conflict as a factor that is related to adjustment. Future research into conflict avoidance as a salient contributor to psychological adjustment appears warranted.

Is the resolution style ‘exiting statements’ related to adolescent problem behavior?

This study examined the association between the adolescents' conflict resolution style ‘exiting statements' (i.e., the expression of the adolescent' desire to minimize or end the contact with his or her parents) in parent–adolescent conflicts with self-rated adolescent GAD symptoms and delinquency symptoms of 1313 adolescents. A multi-group, structural equation model was employed to analyze the relationship between the constructs for four age–sex groups. Results demonstrated that age and sex moderated the relationship between exiting statements, GAD and delinquency. For late adolescent females, perceived difficulties in solving conflicts in horizontal parent–adolescent relationships were significantly related to self-rated GAD symptoms. It is discussed how the Multimodal Treatment Approach could be applied for family conflict resolution. For early adolescent males, perceived problems in solving parent–adolescent conflicts were strongly related to self-rated delinquency symptoms. These findings are discussed in light of Parent Management Training that focuses on the conflict resolution styles of family members.

Conflict Resolution and Distress in Dementia Caregiver Families: Comparison of Cubans and White Non-Hispanics

This study investigated the role of family conflict resolution as a mediator of the relationship between ethnicity and psychological distress in dementia caregivers. The sample was composed of the families of 182 caregivers who participated in REACH (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health). The sample consisted of 84 Cuban American and 98 non-Hispanic White American families. Mediation analyses revealed that both income and conflict resolution partially mediated the relationship between ethnicity and caregiver psychological distress. Specifically, Cuban American families were less likely than non-Hispanic White families to reach a resolution to their disagreements, which may have rendered the caregiver at greater risk for psychological distress. These results suggest that Cuban American caregivers may benefit from interventions that improve the family's ability to resolve conflicts.

Prospective associations from family-of-origin interactions to adult marital interactions and relationship adjustment.

To test the social learning-based hypothesis that marital conflict resolution patterns are learned in the family of origin, longitudinal, observational data were used to assess prospective associations between family conflict interaction patterns during adolescence and offspring's later marital conflict interaction patterns. At age 14 years, 47 participants completed an observed family conflict resolution task with their parents. In a subsequent assessment 17 years later, the participants completed measures of marital adjustment and an observed marital conflict interaction task with their spouse. As predicted, levels of hostility and positive engagement expressed by parents and adolescents during family interactions were prospectively linked with levels of hostility and positive engagement expressed by offspring and their spouses during marital interactions. Family-of-origin hostility was a particularly robust predictor of marital interaction behaviors; it predicted later marital hostility and negatively predicted positive engagement, controlling for psychopathology and family-of-origin positive engagement. For men, family-of-origin hostility also predicted poorer marital adjustment, an effect that was mediated through hostility in marital interactions. These findings suggest a long-lasting influence of family communication patterns, particularly hostility, on offspring's intimate communication and relationship functioning.

Procedural Justice in Family Conflict Resolution and Deviant Peer Group Involvement Among Adolescents: The Mediating Influence of Peer Conflict

The involvement of adolescents with deviant peer groups is one of the strongest proximal correlates to juvenile delinquency and stems from a variety of causes. Past research has linked ineffective parenting with peer variables, including deviant peer group involvement and peer conflict during adolescence. In this study, adolescents’ appraisals of procedural justice within the family (adolescents’ appraisals of how fairly they are treated by parents in the process of resolving family conflict) were examined as one aspect of effective parenting that may relate to deviant peer group involvement in early adolescence. Data from 1660 middle school students (ages 11–14, mean = 12.6) indicated that higher appraisals by adolescents of procedural justice during family conflict resolution were related to lower levels of both peer conflict and deviant peer group involvement. A structural model was tested in which the relationship between adolescents’ appraisals of procedural justice in the family and deviant peer group involvement was partially mediated by measures of peer conflict. This model was found to have adequate fit to the data, indicating that part of the relationship between procedural justice appraisals and deviant peer group involvement can be explained by levels of peer conflict. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Randomized Trial of Behavioral Family Systems Therapy for Diabetes

Studies showing that family communication and conflict resolution are critical to effective management of type 1 diabetes in adolescents have stimulated interest in evaluating psychological treatments targeting these processes. Previous trials have shown that Behavioral Family Systems Therapy (BFST) improved parent-adolescent relationships but not treatment adherence or glycemic control. This study evaluates a revised intervention, BFST for Diabetes (BFST-D), modified to achieve greater impact on diabetes-related family conflict, treatment adherence, and metabolic control. A sample of 104 families of adolescents with inadequate control of type 1 diabetes was randomized to either remain in standard care (SC) or to augmentation of that regimen by 12 sessions of either a multifamily educational support (ES) group or 12 sessions of BFST-D over 6 months. Pertinent measures were collected at baseline and at follow-up evaluations at 6, 12, and 18 months. BFST-D was significantly superior to both SC and ES in effects on A1C, while effects on treatment adherence and family conflict were equivocal. Improvement in A1C appeared to be mediated by improvement in treatment adherence. A significantly higher percentage of BFST-D youth achieved moderate or greater improvement (>0.5 SD) in treatment adherence compared with the SC group at each follow-up and the ES group at 6 and 18 months. Change in treatment adherence correlated significantly with change in A1C at each follow-up. These results support the efficacy of BFST-D in improving A1C, but further research is needed to identify the mechanisms of this effect and to achieve cost-effective dissemination of the intervention.

Law’s effect on the quality of end-of-life care: Lessons from the Schiavo case

The political circus surrounding Terri Schiavo's death is unlikely to repeat itself soon in other cases but the underlying event that precipitated the furor is a recurrent clinical problem-the problem of conflict among family members about withdrawing or withholding life-prolonging treatment for an incompetent patient who had left no advance directive or appointed healthcare proxy. The laws of most states purport to solve this problem by automatic appointment of one person among the disputing family members. However, this forced resolution of the family conflict does not clearly reflect the prior values of the incompetent patient and is likely to intensify rather than ease that conflict, providing no demonstrable benefit to the incompetent patient and complicating the psychological processes of mourning for the surviving family. This article explores the benefits of a different legal rule that would require family consensus before life-prolonging treatment is withdrawn or withheld for an incompetent patient who has indicated no prior wishes regarding the resolution of family conflict.

Bargaining in the Shadow of the Law: Divorce Laws and Family Distress

Over the past thirty years changes in divorce law have significantly increased access to divorce. The different timing of divorce law reform across states provides a useful quasi-experiment with which to examine the effects of this change. We analyze state panel data to estimate changes in suicide, domestic violence, and spousal murder rates arising from the change in divorce law. Suicide rates are used as a quantifiable measure of wellbeing, albeit one that focuses on the extreme lower tail of the distribution. We find a large, statistically significant, and econometrically robust decline in the number of women committing suicide following the introduction of unilateral divorce. No significant effect is found for men. Domestic violence is analyzed using data on both family conflict resolution and intimate homicide rates. The results indicate a large decline in domestic violence for both men and women in states that adopted unilateral divorce. We find suggestive evidence that unilateral divorce led to a decline in females murdered by their partners, while the data revealed no discernible effects for men murdered. In sum, we find strong evidence that legal institutions have profound real effects on outcomes within families.

Adapting the Structural Family Systems Rating to Assess the Patterns of Interaction in Families of Dementia Caregivers

This study adapted the Structural Family Systems Ratings (SFSR), an observational measure of family interactions, for dementia caregivers. This article presents the development of the SFSR-Dementia Caregiver adaptation (SFSR-DC) and examines relationships between specific family-interaction patterns and caregiver distress. The families of 177 Cuban American and White non-Hispanic American caregivers of dementia patients were assessed at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months. Structural family theory and clinical experience were used to identify family interaction patterns believed to be related to caregiver emotional functioning. Factor analysis was used to refine subscales and develop a multiscale measure. Six reliable subscales were related to caregiver distress and included in the SFSR-DC. There were two second-order factors. The SFSR-DC was provisionally cross-validated and showed invariance across the two ethnic groups. The SFSR-DC provides a method for examining specific and multiple interaction patterns in caregiver families and thus can advance knowledge regarding the role of the family in the stress processes of caregiving. These findings support the relevance of family interactions in caregiver distress and suggest that a treatment approach aimed at supporting family closeness and conflict resolution and reducing negativity might enhance caregiver well-being.

THE BOOKSHELF

Family Court ReviewVolume 29, Issue 4 p. 464-471 THE BOOKSHELF First published: October 1991 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.174-1617.1991.tb00255.xAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract Books reviewed in this article: Impasses of Divorce: The Dynamics and Resolution of Family Conflict J. R. Johnston and L.E.G. Campbell California Divorce Handbook: How to Dissolve Your Marriage Without Financial Disaster Judge James W. Stewart Adult Children of Divorce Speak Out Claire Berman Sharing the Care of the Children After Separation: A Practical Guide Anne Opie Patterns of Infidelity and Their Treamtent Emily M. Brown Children on Consignment: A Handbook for Parenting Children and Their Special Needs Philip M. Stahl Volume29, Issue4October 1991Pages 464-471 RelatedInformation

Conflict Resolution in Urban and Rural Families: A Factor Analytical Approach

This paper makes an attempt to examine the strategies incorporated by members in urban and rural families while trying to resolve conflict(s) at the time of making purchases. It is imperative for marketers to understand dynamics of family decision making process, from which conflicts arise between spouses in the course of decision making as also their resolution, both of which are interlinked, hence need considerable attention. Such an analysis helps marketers in framing their promotional strategies to the member(s) most influential in making purchase decision such that divergence of opinion between members is minimised.

Further support of the reliability and construct validity of the horizontal and vertical, individualism and collectivism Framework

The search for an acceptable model to explain cultural differences in value orientations has led the present author to the constructs of individualism and collectivism (I‐C). These two constructs have attracted the attention of scholars from a variety of disciplines since the 1800s, and I‐C has been used to explain cultural differences in family dynamics, conflict resolution, communication, leadership and resource allocation.