Communication During Interpersonal Conflict: Implications for Stress Symptoms

• In Event: You're Stressing Me Out! The Impact of Conflict on Stress and Relationship Satisfaction

Abstract

We explored how communication reported to have occurred during an argumentative episode are correlated with individuals’ stress symptoms and health problems. Distributive actions were positively related to post-episodic avoidance and hyperarousal; hyperarousal mediated the positive relationship between distributive actions and health problems. Avoidant actions were positively related to post-episodic avoidance and hyperarousal. Unexpectedly, integrative actions were positively related to intrusive thoughts, avoidance, and hyperarousal; hyperarousal mediated the positive relationship between integrative actions and health problems.

Authors

• Rachel Reznik, Elmhurst College

• Michael Roloff, Northwestern University

• Courtney Waite Miller, Elmhurst College