Family communication patterns and the conflict styles young adults use with their fathers

Abstract

Researchers consistently assert that conflict behaviors are likely to begin at an early age and that learned patterns may carry into later life. This survey research with 211 undergraduate students at two universities tests the possibility that family communication environments establish relational schemata that steer individuals toward different cognitive foci and different interpretations about conflicts. Results show that family communication patterns between fathers and their young adult children were linked to conflict styles that college students reportedly use with their fathers. Implications for theory development, conflict management and further research are discussed.

Key concepts:

• Family Communication Patterns
• conflict styles
• conflict management
• family dyad
• relational schemata