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Effects of Conflict Styles and Conflict Severity on Quality of Life of Men and Women in Family Businesses

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Abstract

Studies show that family businesses need to manage conflict, but there has been little research on different conflict manifestations and their impact on families involved in businesses together. This study investigates the impact of six conflict styles on severity of conflict and quality of life for husbands and wives in 206 farm family businesses. Data analysis was done using structural equation modeling, with independent models for each gender. For men, the assertion style negatively impacted, and aggression positively impacted the severity of conflict; for women, aggression and withdrawal styles positively impacted, and denial negatively impacted severity of conflict. There was a strong negative relationship between severity of conflict and quality of life for both men and women in family businesses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Family Social Science Department, University of Minnesota, 290 McNeal Hall, 1985 Buford Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108

    Sharon M. Danes

  2. Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    Ronit D. Leichtentritt

  3. Meta Associates, St. Paul, MN

    Michael E. Metz

  4. Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, USA

    Michael E. Metz

  5. Family Science Department, University of Minnesota, USA

    Catherine Huddleston-Casas

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  1. Sharon M. Danes
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  2. Ronit D. Leichtentritt
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  3. Michael E. Metz
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  4. Catherine Huddleston-Casas
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Danes, S.M., Leichtentritt, R.D., Metz, M.E. et al. Effects of Conflict Styles and Conflict Severity on Quality of Life of Men and Women in Family Businesses. Journal of Family and Economic Issues 21, 259–286 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009485301715

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