The Correlation Between Self-Esteem And Conflict Resolution in Students’ Romantic Partnerships

Slavica Blažeka Kokorić, Lucija Matković

Abstract


Conflicts are an inevitable part of romantic partnerships. During a conflict, partners make use of various means of conflict resolution. This research aims to determine how students assess the frequency of using different styles of conflict resolution in their romantic partnerships and whether there are gender differences in this regard. Furthermore, the research aims at examining whether there is a correlation between the experience of self-esteem on one hand, and the styles and effectiveness of conflict resolution on the other hand, in students’ romantic partnerships. The research was conducted through an online survey on a sample of 157 students (101 female and 56 male students). The following measuring instruments were used in the research: Conflict Resolution Styles Inventory (Kurdek 2001), Conflicts and Problem-solving Scales (Kerig 2001), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (Rosenberg 1965, cited in Blažeka 2002). The results showed that in students’ romantic partnerships the most common style of conflict resolution is focused on positive problem solving, while the least common style is compliance. Gender differences in the frequency of using different styles of resolving conflict among romantic partners have not been identified. It found that persons with a higher level of self-esteem are more likely to use positive problem solving, and less likely to use the styles of compliance, withdrawal, and conflict engagement. It confirmes also that persons with a higher level of self-esteem are more likely to experience effective resolution of conflicts with romantic partners.

Keywords


conflicts among romantic partners; conflict resolution styles; conflict resolution effectiveness; self-esteem

Full Text:

PDF

References


Ajduković, Marina, Branka Sladović Franz (2003), ˝Prevladavanje sukoba˝, u: Dean Ajduković (ur.), Socijalna rekonstrukcija zajednice: Psihološki procesi, rješavanje sukoba i socijalna akcija, Društvo za psihološku pomoć, Zagreb, 211-230.

Alinčić, Milana (2013), ˝Osobine ličnosti i asertivnost kao prediktori samopoštovanja i socijalne anksioznosti˝, Primenjena psihologija, 6(2), 139-154.

Bezinović, Petar (1988), Percepcija osobne kompetentnosti kao dimenzija samopoimanja, Doktorska disertacija, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Filozofski fakultet

Blascovich, Jim, Joseph Tomaka (1991), ˝Measures of self-esteem˝, In: J. P. Robinson, P. R. Shaver, L. S. Wrightsman (Eds.), Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes, Academic Press, 115-160.

Blažeka, Slavica (2002), Psiho-socijalni potencijali maturanata (iz ratom različito zahvaćenih krajeva Republike Hrvatske) za uspješno suočavanje sa životnim izazovima, Magistarski rad, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Filozofski fakultet

Blažeka Kokorić, Slavica (2005), Povezanost iskustava u primarnoj obitelji s obilježjima partnerskih odnosa, Doktorska disertacija, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Pravni fakultet, Studijski centar socijalnog rada

Blažeka Kokorić, Slavica (2006), ˝Rješavanje partnerskih sukoba s obzirom na spol partnera, iskustvo i trajanje partnerskog odnosa˝, Ljetopis socijalnog rada, 14(1), 5-26.

Blažeka Kokorić, Slavica, Gordana Stolfa (2021), ˝Povezanost između obilježja partnerskih sukoba s doživljajem emocionalnog sagorijevanja i procjenom budućnosti partnerske veze˝, Nova prisutnost, XIX (2), 419-434.

Ćubela Adorić, Vera, Rafaela Kovač (2010), ˝Skala uspješnosti rješavanja bračnih konflikata˝, u: Ivana Tucak Junaković, Vera Ćubela Adorić, Zvjezdan Penezić i Ana Proroković (ur.), Zbirka psihologijskih skala i upitnika, sv. 5, Sveučilište u Zadru, Zadar, 85-92.

Delatore, Marina, Adriana Wagner (2019), ˝How Do Couples Disagree? An Analysis of Conflict Resolution Profiles and the Quality of Romantic Relationships˝, Revista Colombiana De Psicologia, 28(2), 91-108.

Hojjat, Mahzad (2000), ˝Sex differences and perceptions of conflict in romantic relationships˝, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17(4-5), 598-617.

Hudek-Knežević, Jasna (1994), Suočavanje sa stresnim situacijama izazvanim konfliktom između profesionalne i obiteljske uloge: Uloga stilova suočavanja, samopoimanja i percepcije socijalne okoline, Doktorska disertacija, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Filozofski fakultet

Johnson, Kristen Linnea, Michael E. Roloff (2000), ˝Correlates of the Perceived Resolvability and Relational Consequences of Serial Arguing in Dating Relationships: Argumentative Features and the Use of Coping Strategies˝, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 17(4-5), 676-686.

Kerig, Patricia K. (2001), ˝Conflicts and Problem-solving Scales (CPS)˝, u: Barry F. Perlmutter, John Touliatos, Goerge W. Holden (ur.), Handbook of family measurement techniques – Instruments & Index, sv. 3, Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi, Sage Publications, 131-135.

Kurdek, Lawrence A. (1994), ˝Conflict Resolution Styles in Gay, Lesbian, Heterosexual, Nonparent, and Heterosexual Parent Couples˝, Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55, 705-722.

Kurdek, Lawrence A. (2001), ˝Conflict resolution style inventory (CRSI)˝, u: Barry F. Perlmutter, John Touliatos, Goerge W. Holden (ur.), Handbook of family measurement techniques – Instruments & Index, sv. 3, Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi, Sage Publications, 107.

Laursen, Brett (1993), ˝The perceived impact of conflict on adolescent relationships˝, Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 39(4), 535-550.

Leary, Mark R. (1999), ˝Making sense of self-esteem˝, Current directions in psychological science, 8(1), 32-35.

Leary, Mark R. (2005), ˝Sociometer theory and the pursuit of relational value: Getting to the root of self-esteem˝, European Review of Social Psychology, 16, 75-111.

Marigold, Denise C., John G. Holmes, Michael Ross (2007), ˝More than words: Reframing compliments from romantic partners fosters security in low self-esteem individuals˝, Journal of personality and social psychology, 92(2), 232-247, https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.2.232

Murray, Sandra L., Paul Rose, Gina M. Bellavia, John G. Holmes, Anna Garrett Kusche (2002), ˝When rejection stings: How self-esteem constrains relationship enhancement processes˝, Interpersonal Relations and Group Processes, 83(3), 556-573.

Sanderson, Catherine A., Kim Karetsky (2002), ˝Intimacy goals and strategies of conflict resolution in dating relationships: A mediational analysis˝, Journal of social and Personal Relationships, 19(3), 317-337.

Skupnjak, Draženka (2020), ˝Rješavanje konflikata i vještine asertivnosti˝, Varaždinski učitelj - digitalni časopis za odgoj i obrazovanje, 3(3), 98-116.

Stolfa, Gordana (2017), Obilježja partnerskih sukoba i odrednice njihovog rješavanja, Doktorska disertacija, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Pravni fakultet, Studijski centar socijalnog rada

Orth, Urlich, Ruth Yasemin Erol, Eva C. Luciano (2018), ˝Development of self-esteem from age 4 to 94 years: A meta-analysis of longitudinal studies˝, Psychological Bulletin, 144(10), 1045-1080.

Reese-Weber, Maria, Suzanne Bartle-Haring (1998), ˝Conflict Resolution Styles in Family Subsystems and Adolescent Romantic Relationships˝, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 27(6),735-752.

Ting-Toomey Stella, John G. Oetzel, Kimberlie Yee-Jung (2001), ˝Self-construal types and conflict management˝, Communication Reports, 14(2), 87-104.




DOI: https://doi.org/10.51558/2490-3647.2022.7.2.711

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


ISSN: 2490-3604 (print) ● ISSN: 2490-3647 (online)

Društvene i humanističke studije - DHS is under the Creative Commons licence.