Conflict areas and conflict resolution strategies of college students with friends and romantic partners

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore the major conflicts college students experience with their friends and romantic partners, and to investigate whether conflict resolution strategies vary as a function of the relationships in which the conflicts occur. A total of 19 undergraduate students majoring in Psychological Counseling and Guidance (PCG) volunteered to take part in the study. Data was collected using the unstructured diary format method. Content analysis is used to examine two-week diary entries. Regarding the first aim of this study, disagreements in academic work received the highest percentage between friends. In addition, jealousy was the highest conflicting theme between romantic partners. Regarding the second aim of this study, findings suggested that participants used constructive strategies more frequently with romantic partners than with friends. The results were discussed using the conflict resolution and social exchange theory.