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Adolescents’ Conflict Resolution Styles Toward Mothers: The Role of Parenting and Personality

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Abstract

In the present research, we examined associations between contextual and individual factors and adolescents’ conflict resolution with mothers. In Study 1, we explored links between maternal responsiveness and psychological control and adolescent conflict resolution styles (positive problem solving, conflict engagement, withdrawal, and compliance) with two informants. In Study 2, we examined the unique contribution of adolescents’ personality above and beyond perceived parenting in the prediction of conflict resolution styles. Results of both studies indicated that responsiveness was related positively to problem solving and negatively to withdrawal. Psychological control was positively associated with destructive resolution styles. Study 2 indicated that extraversion predicted more problem solving and conflict engagement, and less withdrawal. Agreeableness predicted more problem solving and less conflict engagement. Finally, certain personality traits moderated associations between parenting and conflict resolution, indicating that some adolescents are more sensitive to these parenting dimensions than others.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School Psychology and Child and Adolescent Development (SCAD), KU Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, Box 37, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Lies Christine Missotten & Koen Luyckx

  2. Parenting and Special Education, KU Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, Box 3765, 3000, Leuven, Belgium

    Karla Van Leeuwen

  3. Department of Developmental Psychology, Tilburg University, Kamer P 2209, Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Theo Klimstra

  4. Centre for Child and Adolescent Studies, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 1, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Susan Branje

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  1. Lies Christine Missotten
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  2. Koen Luyckx
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  4. Theo Klimstra
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  5. Susan Branje
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Missotten, L.C., Luyckx, K., Van Leeuwen, K. et al. Adolescents’ Conflict Resolution Styles Toward Mothers: The Role of Parenting and Personality. J Child Fam Stud 25, 2480–2497 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0421-x

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