A bioecological view of interracial/same-race couple conflict. Issue 3 (8th July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: A. MacNeil, Theresa; Adamsons, Kari
• Is Part Of: International journal of conflict management. Volume 25:Issue 3(2014)
• Page Start: 243
• Page End: 260
• Publication Date: 2014-07-08
• Subjects: Conflict management -- Periodicals; Industrial relations -- Periodicals; Negotiation -- Periodicals; Social conflict -- Periodicals; Diplomatic negotiations in international disputes -- Periodicals; 303.6905
• DOI: 10.1108/IJCMA-08-2012-0063
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1044-4068

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – The purpose if this study is to examine differences in conflict management strategies, relational satisfaction and social support of individuals in same-race and interracial relationships. Additionally, the authors examined associations between self-reported and observed measures of conflict management strategies. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – The current study used Bronfenbrenner's (2005) bioecological theory as an organizing framework. Twenty individuals in interracial and same-race relationships were recruited from a large Northeastern US university. Self-report and observational measures of conflict management strategies were obtained as were individuals' self-reported levels of relational satisfaction and social support. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – Results indicated a few differences in conflict management strategies between individuals in same-race and interracial dyads and no differences in social support or satisfaction. Observational measures of conflict management were largely uncorrelated with their corresponding self-report measures. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Research limitations/implications</title> <p> – The current sample was small and consisted of students from a predominately White region of the country; thus generalizability and statistical power are limited. However, the results suggest ways interracial and same-race dyads might manage conflict differently as well as how self-reported and observational methods might differ in terms of the results obtained. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – Interracial couple relationship processes are largely unexplored, but are important to study. The current findings further suggest that self-report and observational methods should be combined to more fully portray the conflict management strategies of individuals in interracial and same-race relationships.</p> </sec> </abstract>