Do We Get Better at Picking Our Battles? Age Group Differences in Descriptions of Behavioral Reactions to Interpersonal Tensions

Individuals of various ages may react in different ways when they are upset with their social partners. This study examines age group differences in descriptions of behavioral reactions to interpersonal tensions. Participants ages 13 to 99 (84 men, 100 women) described interpersonal tensions that oc...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences Psychological sciences and social sciences, 2005-05, Vol.60 (3), p.P121-P128
Main Authors: Birditt, Kira S., Fingerman, Karen L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Adult. Elderly
Age Differences
Age Factors
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Aging - psychology
Behavior
Biological and medical sciences
Conflict (Psychology)
Conflict Theory
Cooperative Behavior
Developmental psychology
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Interpersonal Conflict
Interpersonal Relations
Interpersonal Relationship Satisfaction
Life Style
Male
Middle Aged
Problem Solving
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Sex Factors
Social Behavior
Social conflict
Social interaction
Social Networks
Stress, Psychological - psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tension
United States
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Individuals of various ages may react in different ways when they are upset with their social partners. This study examines age group differences in descriptions of behavioral reactions to interpersonal tensions. Participants ages 13 to 99 (84 men, 100 women) described interpersonal tensions that occurred with close and problematic social network members. Descriptions were coded with Rusbult's typology of conflict strategies (voice, loyalty, neglect, exit). Multilevel models revealed that older adults were more likely to report loyalty strategies (e.g., doing nothing) while younger people were more likely to report exit (e.g., yelling) strategies in response to interpersonal problems. These age differences were not accounted for by intensity of distress, relationship quality, contact frequency, or type of social partner. It appears that individuals are better able to regulate their behavioral responses to interpersonal problems as they age.
ISSN:1079-5014
1758-5368
DOI:10.1093/geronb/60.3.P121