Adolescents' perceptions of interparental conflict and the impact on their aggressive communication traits

This study examines the relationship between interparental conflict and adolescents' aggressive communication while utilizing tolerance for disagreement as a mediating variable. Participants were 159 high school students. Participants completed a modified version of the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale (Grych, Seid, & Fincham, 1992), the Argumentativeness Scale (Infante & Rancer, 1982), the Verbal Aggressiveness Scale (Infante & Wigley, 1986), and the Revised Tolerance for Disagreement Scale (Teven, Martin, & Neupauer, 1998). No significant relationships were found between perceived interparental conflict and adolescents' tendencies to approach arguments, adolescents' tendencies to avoid arguments, and adolescents' verbal aggressiveness. When controlling for tolerance for disagreement, no significant relationships were found between perceived interparental conflict and adolescents' tendencies to approach arguments, adolescents' tendencies to avoid arguments, and adolescents' verbal aggressiveness. Post-hoc analyses revealed that adolescents living in intact homes reported lower levels of interparental conflict than adolescents living in non-intact homes. Reasons behind a lack of significant findings and implications for future research are discussed.

Name thesis:degree_name

MA

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Communication Studies

Year dc:date.available

2004

Author dc:creator

• Kunkle, Christine E.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Scott A. Myers.
• Melanie Booth-Butterfield
• Keith Weber

• Communication
• Individual & family studies
• Social psychology

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/791

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1794