Family triads in conflict: The case for symmetry of communication styles

This study examined family members' reported use of conflict styles within intact family triads (mothers, fathers, and their young adult children) in the launching stage of the family life cycle. Members of 72 family units (N=216) completed a questionnaire which asked how frequently they employed passive‐indirect, distributive, and integrative styles when managing conflict in their families. Reported use of conflict style was compared across family members to assess the existence of symmetrical or asymmetrical family conflict styles, satisfaction with conflict, and reported openness of communication. Results indicated that most families reported use of symmetrically integrative conflict styles, and that symmetry existed only when integrative styles were reported by all family members. Further, members who report use of distributive or passive‐indirect styles also reported less openness of communication within the family unit. Overall, these findings indicate that families in the launching stage reported managing conflict constructively. Most importantly, the results suggest an interesting relationship between integrative styles and relational symmetry, a relationship worthy of investigation in future research.

Notes

Rhonda G. Parker (Ph. D., University of Georgia) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94117–1080. Kathryn Greene (Ph. D., University of Georgia) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858. Dr. Greene was the recipient of the 1993 Speech Communication Association Award for Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation. Julianne M. Serovich (Ph. D., University of Georgia) is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Relations at Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210. Completion of this project was made possible by travel funding provided to the second author from the East Carolina University College of Arts and Sciences Deans Office and reassigned time from the ECU College Research Award.