Abstract
The aims of the study were: (1) to examine whether adolescents’ attachment and the perceived quality of the communication with their parents relate to effective resolution of parent–child conflicts and (2) to determine whether the pattern of associations changes with adolescents’ gender and age. The sample consisted of 295 adolescents who filled the questionnaires. Structural Equations Models showed that secure attachment predicted a positive communicative climate, which in turn, predicted a more frequent use of negotiation. Secure attachment was related to the use of withdrawal strategies. Anxious attachment was related to high levels of criticism and disputes with parents, which, in turn, predicted the use of all conflict resolution styles. Avoidant attachment was not related to any of the conflict resolution styles. No differences were found in the pattern of associations by gender and age. The relevance of the findings for the social relational perspective to conflict resolution is discussed.
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Marta García-Ruiz. Public Health Agency of Barcelona, Institute of Biomedical Research, CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona, Spain
Current themes of research:
Parent-child conflicts. Resolution styles. Adolescent and Family Life-styles.
Relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:
Rodrigo, M. J., Máiquez, M. L., Padrón, I., & García, M. (2009). ¿Por qué y con qué intención lo hizo? Atribuciones de los padres y adolescentes durante los conflictos familiares (Why and for what purpose did it? Attributions of parents and adolescents during family conflicts). Psicothema, 21, 273–278.
Rodrigo, M. J., García, M., Máiquez, M. L., Rodríguez, B., & Padrón, I. (2008). Estrategias y metas en la resolución de conflictos cotidianos entre adolescentes, padres y madres (Strategies and goals in solving everyday conflicts between adolescents, fathers and mothers). Infancia y Aprendizaje, 31(3), 347–362.
Rodrigo, M. J., García, M., Máiquez, M. L., & Triana, B. (2005). Discrepancias entre padres e hijos adolescentes en la frecuencia percibida e intensidad emocional de los conflictos familiares (Discrepancies between parents and adolescents in the perceived frequency and emotional intensity in family conflicts). Estudios de Psicología, 26, 21–34.
María José Rodrigo. Department of Developmental Psychology and Education. Faculty of Psychology, University of La Laguna, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. E-mail: mjrodri@ull.es
Current themes of research:
Parent-child relationships in normalized and at-risk families. Brain bases of Neglectful Motherhood. Evidence-based Parenting programs.
Relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:
Rodrigo, M. J., Byrne, S., & Álvarez, M. (2012). Preventing child maltreatment through parenting programs implemented at the local social services level. European Journal of Developmental Psychology 9, 89–103.
Rodrigo, M. J., León, I., Lage, A., Byrne, S., & Bobes, M. A. (2011). Brain and personality bases of insensitivity to infant cues in neglectful mothers: an ERP study. Development and Psychopathology, 23, 163–176.
Rodríguez, G., Rodrigo, M. J., Janssens, J., & Triana, B. (2011). Quality of maternal thinking and quality of mother-child interaction in at risk contexts. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 52, 545–552.
Juan Andrés Hernández-Cabrera. Department of Psychobiology and Methodology, University of La Laguna, San Cristobal de La Laguna, 38205, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Tenerife, Spain. E-mail: jhernandezcabrera@gmail.com
Current themes of research:
Multivariate data analysis. ERP and FMRI data analysis.
Relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:
León, I., Díaz, J. M., de Vega, M., & Hernández J. A. (2010). Discourse-based emotional consistency modulates early and middle components of event-related potentials. Emotions, 10(6), 863–873.
León, I., Hernández-Cabrera, J., Rodriguez, S., & Vila, J. (2009). When head is tempered by heart: Heart rate variability modulates perception of other-blame reducing anger. Motivation and Emotion. 33, 1–9.
Gonzalez-Mendez, R., & Hernández-Cabrera, J. A. (2009). Play context, commitment, and dating violence: A structural equation model. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 24, 1518–1535.
María Luisa Máiquez. Department of Developmental Psychology and Education, Faculty of Psychology, University of La Laguna, 38205 La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain. E-mail: mmaicha@ull.es
Current themes of research:
At-risk families. Evidence-based parenting programs. Large-scale implementation and evaluation of parenting programs.
Relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:
Rodrigo, M. J., Camacho, J., Máiquez, M. L., Byrne, S., & Benito, J. M. (2009). Factores que influyen en el pronóstico de recuperación de las familias en riesgo psicosocial: el papel de la resiliencia del menor (Factors that influence the prognosis for recovery in psychosocial risk families: The role of child resilience). Psicothema, 21, 90–96.
Rodrigo, M. J., Martín, J. C., Máiquez, M. L., & Rodríguez, G. (2007). Informal and formal supports and maternal child-rearing practices in at-risk and non at-risk psychosocial contexts. Children and Youth Services Review, 29, 329–347.
Rodrigo, M. J., Máiquez, M. L., Correa, A. D., Martín, J.C., & Rodríguez, G. (2006). Outcome evaluation of a community centre-based program for mothers at high psychosocial risk. Child Abuse and Neglect, 39, 1049–1064.
Maja Deković. Department of Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail: M.Dekovic@uu.nl
Current themes of research:
Development and determinants of child and family problems. Effectiveness of family-based interventions.
Relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:
Deković, M., Stolz, S., Schuiringa, H., Manders, W., & Asscher, J. J. (2012). Testing theories through evaluation research: Conceptual and methodological issues embedded in evaluations of parenting programmes. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 9, 61–74..
Deković, M., Slagt, M. I., Asscher, J. J., Boendermaker, L., Eichelsheim, V. I., & Prinzie, P. (2011). Effects of early prevention programs on adult criminal offending: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 31, 532–544.
Deković, M., Asscher, J. J., Hermanns, J., Reitz, E., Prinzie, P., & Akker, A. L. van den (2010). Tracing changes in families who participated in Home-Start parenting program: Parental competence as mechanism of change. Prevention Science, 11, 263–274.
This research was supported by funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project SEJ2007-67082, to the second author.
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García-Ruiz, M., Rodrigo, M.J., Hernández-Cabrera, J.A. et al. Resolution of parent–child conflicts in the adolescence. Eur J Psychol Educ 28, 173–188 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-012-0108-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-012-0108-7