Conflict-management styles of spouses in lasting marriages.

Abstract

This article focuses on conflictmanagement styles of spouses in marriages that lasted an average of 35 years. Data about adaptation in these marriages, which included how spouses dealt with marital conflict, was collected through in-depth interviews with 144 spouses in 72 marriages. The sample was diverse in terms of race, socioeconomic status, and religion. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the most powerful factor in shaping conflict-management styles in the recent years of these relationships was the style of managing conflict in previous years. Based on these findings, treatment implications for marital therapy are discussed.