Longitudinal spillover effects of conflict resolution styles between adolescent-parent relationships and adolescent friendships.

Abstract

This study longitudinally investigated spillover effects of conflict resolution styles in adolescent-parent relationships and adolescent friendships. Questionnaires about conflict resolution styles with parents and best friends were completed by adolescents from two age cohorts: 559 early adolescents (mean age 13.4) and 327 middle adolescents (mean age 17.7). Path analyses on two waves, with a three-year interval, indicated that in the early-to-middle adolescent group positive problem solving and conflict engagement spilled over from adolescent-parent relationships to adolescent friendships and not from adolescent friendships to adolescent-parent relationships. In the middle-to-late adolescent group, we found bidirectional spillover effects for these two conflict resolution styles. For withdrawal, we found bidirectional spillover effects in both cohorts. This study showed that both parents and friends set the stage for exercising and learning conflict resolution styles and thereby shape adolescents' future conflict behavior.

Longitudinal Transmission of Conflict Management Styles Across Inter‐Parental and Adolescent Relationships

“…In line with our expectations and in agreement with previous findings (Reese‐Weber & Bartle‐Haring, ; Van Doorn et al., ), the results of this study indicated spillover (Erel & Burman, ; Larson & Almeida, ) from adolescent–parent conflict management styles to adolescent–friend and adolescent–partner relationships, in addition to a concurrent relation at Time 1, and correlated changes, between adolescent conflict management with parents and friends. Adolescents’ use of positive problem solving and conflict engagement in relationships with parents positively predicted their use of these respective styles in relationships with friends and romantic partners.…”

“…Furthermore, the path from adolescent conflict management with parents to adolescent conflict management with friends was stronger than the other way around for positive problem solving and conflict engagement. Thus, our results seem to support the idea that the main context for adolescents to learn and practice conflict management skills is the family, and that the adolescent–parent relationship forms an important source from which adolescents learn how to manage conflicts in other relationships, such as those with friends and romantic partners (Cui et al., ; Kinsfogel & Grych, ; Van Doorn et al., ).…”

“…Three conflict management styles that can be distinguished are positive problem solving, conflict engagement, and withdrawal. These conflict management styles have been identified based on behavioral observations of marital relationships (Gottman & Krokoff, ) and are also found in relationships of adolescents with parents and friends (Van Doorn, Branje, & Meeus, ; Van Doorn et al., ). Positive problem solving involves negotiation, trying to understand the other's position, and using constructive reasoning tactics to work out compromises.…”

“…Indeed, adolescent self‐reported conflict management with parents was found to be related to adolescent self‐reported conflict management with friends (Van Doorn et al., ) and romantic partners (Reese‐Weber & Bartle‐Haring, ). When positive problem solving, conflict engagement, or withdrawal was used more within the adolescent–parent relationship, the adolescent was more likely to use the respective style later on in friendships (Van Doorn et al., ) and concurrently in romantic relationships (Reese‐Weber & Bartle‐Haring, ; Reese‐Weber & Kahn, ).…”

“…Indeed, adolescent self‐reported conflict management with parents was found to be related to adolescent self‐reported conflict management with friends (Van Doorn et al., ) and romantic partners (Reese‐Weber & Bartle‐Haring, ). When positive problem solving, conflict engagement, or withdrawal was used more within the adolescent–parent relationship, the adolescent was more likely to use the respective style later on in friendships (Van Doorn et al., ) and concurrently in romantic relationships (Reese‐Weber & Bartle‐Haring, ; Reese‐Weber & Kahn, ). Despite consistent findings showing that the quality of parent–adolescent relationships prospectively predicts the quality of romantic relationships (e.g., Cook, Buehler, & Blair, ; Cui, Durtschi, Donnellan, Lorenz, & Conger, ; Cui & Fincham, ), associations between adolescent conflict management with parents and romantic partners have not been examined over time.…”