Effects of Interparental Conflict Tactic Styles on the Psychological Adjustment of College Undergraduates

Past research has examined the effect of the level of interparental conflict on the psychological adjustment of children and young adult offspring. Research has suggested that higher levels of conflict in intact, separated, and divorced homes have negative effects on the psychological adjustment of children and young adults. Recent studies have further examined interparental conflict by examining the styles with which parents resolve or cope with conflict and it\u27s effect on their children. This study assessed the effect of different interparental conflict styles of mother and of father on college-age offspring. The three styles examined were negotiation, psychological aggression and physical aggression. Results indicate that only mothers who use negotiation as a conflict style have a more positive effect on the general affect of college-age offspring