Relational Satisfaction as a Mediator of Parent-Young Adult Conflict and Young Adults’ Emotional Labor

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the potential for young adults’ relational (dis)satisfaction with parents to function as a mediator in the association between their demand/withdraw patterns and emotional labor with parents. Based on a survey of 259 young adults, results indicated that young adults’ relational (dis)satisfaction functions as an explanatory mechanism, where demand/withdraw conflict with parents decreases their relational satisfaction, in turn increasing young adults’ emotional labor with parents. This finding may help family scholars better understand outcomes of parent-child conflict for older children, highlighting impacts on their emotional well-being and communication. In order to promote healthy family functioning and strong relationships, understanding fallout from parent-young adult conflict as well as factors that influence how young adults communicate their emotions with parents is pertinent.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).