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The purpose of the present study is to examine how conflict resolution styles between one family dyad is related to other family dyads and how conflict resolution styles within these family dyads are related to conflict resolution styles in one relationship outside the family-adolescents' romantic relationships. Late adolescents (n = 217) were asked to report their perceptions of three resolution styles used in interparent, mother-adolescent, father-adolescent, sibling, and romantic couple conflicts. Based on the cases with complete data (n = 163), path analyses indicated that both direct and indirect relationships exist between these dyadic relationships: (1) Resolution styles utilized in the interparent subsystem were found to have a direct relationship with mother adolescent and father-adolescent resolution and an indirect relationship with sibling and romantic couple resolution. (2) Mother-adolescent and father-adolescent resolution were found to have a direct relationship with sibling and romantic couple resolution. (3) Sibling resolution was found to have a direct relationship with romantic couple resolution for negative resolution styles, but not for the positive resolution style of compromise.
INTRODUCTION
Conflict is an inevitable event in all interpersonal relationships (Shantz and Hartup, 1992). The management of conflict determines the degree to which a relationship will be influenced by these conflictual episodes. During adolescence interpersonal relationships extend from the family to peer relationships providing opportunities to observe and explore conflict management styles within the family and outside the family (Hartup, 1992). The purpose of the present study is to examine how conflict resolution styles between one family dyad is related to other family dyads and how conflict resolution styles within these family dyads are related to conflict resolution styles in one relationship outside the family-adolescents' romantic relationships.
With families, adolescents can practice resolution styles in relationships with their parents and siblings and observe resolution styles used during interparent disputes. Research indicates that resolution styles experienced and observed within the family are similar across dyads. Rubenstein and Feldman (1993) found three resolution styles in parent-adolescent conflict using the Conflict-Resolution Behavior Questionnaire. Behaviors such as apologizing, understanding the others' point of view, and/or working together to solve the problem have been considered a compromise style of resolution. A resolution style that includes hostility, authoritarian behavior, and/or escalation of the conflict has been labeled attack. Finally,...