Conflict engagement and management among stepsiblings
type: CreativeWork
description: The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore how stepsiblings engage, manage, and resolve conflicts. The processes that facilitate or impede conflict management among stepsiblings were explored. The 25 stepchildren in the sample had 71 stepsiblings, but they did not experience conflicts with all of them. Three conditions necessary for conflict to occur were: (1) opportunity (i.e., shared time, shared space, ability to interact), (2) intimacy (i.e., perceived closeness between stepsiblings, close friendship or familiarity), and (3) similarity (i.e., age, gender, or role in family). Sources of conflict included: (1) behaviors of a stepsibling, (2) violations of territory (e.g., bedrooms), (3) differential treatment by step/parents, and (4) disputes over resources. Stepsiblings used more than one conflict management strategy if the source of conflict was deemed important or if the relationship had developed to a level of intimacy in which they felt they could engage in more direct strategies. Strategies used to manage conflict among stepsiblings included both intrapersonal and interpersonal processes.
abstract: The purpose of this grounded theory study was to explore how stepsiblings engage, manage, and resolve conflicts. The processes that facilitate or impede conflict management among stepsiblings were explored. The 25 stepchildren in the sample had 71 stepsiblings, but they did not experience conflicts with all of them. Three conditions necessary for conflict to occur were: (1) opportunity (i.e., shared time, shared space, ability to interact), (2) intimacy (i.e., perceived closeness between stepsiblings, close friendship or familiarity), and (3) similarity (i.e., age, gender, or role in family). Sources of conflict included: (1) behaviors of a stepsibling, (2) violations of territory (e.g., bedrooms), (3) differential treatment by step/parents, and (4) disputes over resources. Stepsiblings used more than one conflict management strategy if the source of conflict was deemed important or if the relationship had developed to a level of intimacy in which they felt they could engage in more direct strategies. Strategies used to manage conflict among stepsiblings included both intrapersonal and interpersonal processes.
author: Landon, Olivia Julia
language: eng
language: English
date published: 2020
date modified: 2026-07-24T03:07:35Z
provider: University of Missouri
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Missouri--Columbia

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/10355/94339

PropertyValue
property ID: DOI
value: 10.32469/10355/94339