Estructura del hogar y conflictividad entre los padres

Abstract

In a sample of 577 university students from intact, divorced and reconstituted families, the levels of conflict between parents were analysed, regarding both the characteristics of the conflicts (frequency, intensity, resolution and content) and cognitive appraisals (perception of threat, coping, self-blame, triangulation and stability). Students from intact families, in contrast to those from divorced or reconstituted families, reported a lower frequency of parental conflict as well as a lower intensity of conflict and a higher probability of resolution. There were no differences according to family structure regarding the content of the conflicts. The only significant difference between divorced and reconstituted families was the resolution, reconstituted families being more likely than monoparental families to solve the conflicts. Students from intact families, in contrast to those from divorced or reconstituted families, perceived parental conflicts as less threatening and stable, and they were less likely to feel trapped (triangulation). Moreover, they felt more capable of coping with the conflicts than the students from divorced families. They did not differ on self-blame for the parental conflicts.