中華心理衛生協會

Purpose: This study first integrates the newly-proposed concept of functional-oriented appraisal of conflict and the existing research findings on conflict resolution strategies, and then proposes a theoretical framework for the constructive transformation process of parent-adult child conflict. Based upon the proposed framework, the mediating effects of three kinds of conflict resolution strategies (shared, self-oriented, and self-sacrifice strategies) on the relationship between functional-oriented appraisal of conflict and personal adaptation were compared to verify that only shared strategy works. Methods: Data were taken from the 2011 family module of the Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSCS; Phase 6 Wave 2). Only respondents whose parents were still alive and who had experienced conflict with their parents at least one time in the past year were included in the final sample, which consisted of 787 Taiwanese respondents (average age 33.1 years; 54% males and 46% females). Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to confirm that the mediating effect could happen only via the path of the shared but not self-oriented or self-sacrifice resolution strategies. Further, Sobel tests were conducted to determine whether only the shared resolution strategy has a significant indirect effect and the multiple mediator analysis procedure (Preacher & Hayes, 2008) to compare the differences in the magnitude of indirect effect between the three resolution strategies. Results: When controlling for socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, educational level, marital status, monthly household income, and the degree of urbanization of residence, a functional-oriented appraisal of parent-child conflict made by adult children had significant positive influence on both personal well-being and their relationship with their parents. In addition, only the shared resolution strategies had significant mediating effects on the link between functional-oriented appraisal of conflict and the two criterion variables regarding personal adaptation. Conclusions: This study took a positive perspective on parent-child conflict and provided a new research framework. Results established the fundamental mediating path in the constructive transformation process of parent-adult child conflict, which may provide a solid basis for further investigation of other relevant psychological mechanisms constituting the constructive transformation process.