The development and trajectory of parent-child conflict during College.

Abstract

This two-study investigation examined parent-child conflict during young adulthood from the perspective of college students. Study 1a utilized a mixed-method approach to examine the content and resolution of parent-child conflict. Four qualitative themes of the content of conflict, as well as conflict resolution, were found and compared to quantitative measures of family functioning, mental health, and physical health (Study 1a). Additionally, in a subset of the Study 1 sample (Study1b), students who reported parent-child conflict reported higher frequencies of conflict, less perceived family support, and more psychological distress than those students who did not report conflict. Study 2 examined trajectories of parent-child conflict using quantitative longitudinal data spanning three points of time during college. Using latent class growth analysis, four distinct trajectories were found. The results demonstrate the importance of continuing to study parent-child relationships during the young adult years.