Contribution of parents' adult attachment and separation attitudes to parent-adolescent conflict resolution.

This study examined the contribution to parent-adolescent conflict resolution of parental adult attachment styles and attitudes toward adolescent separation. Questionnaires were completed by 295 couples with early to late adolescent children. Structural equation models were used to test self and partner influences on conflict resolution for three attachment orientations: confidence (model A), anxiety (model B) and avoidance (model C). Model A showed self influences between parents' confidence orientation and negotiation and also via positive attitudes towards separation. Also, the fathers' use of negotiation was facilitated by the mothers' confidence orientation and vice versa, indicating partner influences as well. Model B showed self influences between parents' anxiety orientation and the use of dominance and withdrawal and also via negative attitudes towards separation. Model C showed self influences between parents' avoidance orientation and dominance and withdrawal, and a partner influence between fathers' avoidance and mothers' use of dominance. The results indicated that the parents' adult attachment system and the parenting system were related in the area of conflict resolution, and that self influences were stronger than partner influences.

¿Por qué y con qué intención lo hizo? Atribuciones de los padres y adolescentes en los conflictos familiares / Why and with what intention did they do it? Parents’ and adolescents’ attributions about family conflicts

Se estudian las atribuciones causales (locus, estabilidad y controlabilidad) e intencionales (positiva, negativa y neutra) ante conflictos familiares según el punto de vista del padre, de la madre y del adolescente en 270 familias biparentales y en función de que el conflicto sea clave para padres o para hijos. Se analizan las relaciones entre las atribuciones y las estrategias de resolución de conflictos reportadas (negociadora, dominante e indiferente). Los resultados indican que padres y madres en comparación con los adolescentes se atribuyen menos la causa del conflicto, la declaran como más incontrolable y atribuyen una mayor intencionalidad hostil al mismo (sobre todo las madres). Se observa una cierta transmisión generacional del patrón atribucional padre-hijo y padre/madre-hija con una estructura intencional clara sólo en el caso de las chicas. El patrón atribucional varía en función del tipo de conflicto mostrando el sesgo actor-observador en la tríada. Finalmente, se han obtenido relaciones moderadas entre intencionalidad y uso de estrategias de dominancia e indiferencia en los adolescentes y uso de las tres estrategias en los padres (sobre todo en la madre) moduladas por el tipo de conflicto (AU)

Causal (locus, stability, and controllability) and intentional (positive, negative, and neutral) attributions about family conflict situations reported by father, mother, and adolescent were studied in a sample of 270 two-parent families according to the type of conflict (upsetting to adolescent or upsetting to parents). The relationships between attributions and use of strategies in conflict resolution (negotiation, dominance, and indifference) were also examined. Results indicated that, as compared to adolescents, parents blamed themselves less for the conflict and perceived it as less controllable, whereas adolescents (especially girls) perceived a more benevolent intention than parents (especially mothers). Transmission of the attributional pattern via father-son and father/mother-daughter was observed with a clear intentional structure only for daughters. The attributional pattern of the triad also varied according to the actor-observer bias. Lastly, moderate relations were obtained between intentionality and use of strategies of dominance and indifference in adolescents and use of the three strategies in parents (especially mothers), modulated by the type of conflict in all the cases (AU)

[Why and with what intention did they do it? Parents' and adolescents' attributions about family conflicts]. / Por qué y con qué intención lo hizo? Atribuciones de los padres y adolescentes en los conflictos familiares.

Causal (locus, stability, and controllability) and intentional (positive, negative, and neutral) attributions about family conflict situations reported by father, mother, and adolescent were studied in a sample of 270 two-parent families according to the type of conflict (upsetting to adolescent or upsetting to parents). The relationships between attributions and use of strategies in conflict resolution (negotiation, dominance, and indifference) were also examined. Results indicated that, as compared to adolescents, parents blamed themselves less for the conflict and perceived it as less controllable, whereas adolescents (especially girls) perceived a more benevolent intention than parents (especially mothers). Transmission of the attributional pattern via father-son and father/mother-daughter was observed with a clear intentional structure only for daughters. The attributional pattern of the triad also varied according to the actor-observer bias. Lastly, moderate relations were obtained between intentionality and use of strategies of dominance and indifference in adolescents and use of the three strategies in parents (especially mothers), modulated by the type of conflict in all the cases.