Conflict management style and relationship satisfaction of dating couples in Hong Kong

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated the connection between the conflict management style and the relationship satisfaction of Chinese dating couples.

Methods: Participants were 127 Hong Kong Chinese who were involved in a dating relationship for more than 1 year when the study began. The Relationship Assessment Scale, Rahim’s Organization Conflict Inventory, and a self-derived scale measuring attachment to Chinese values were administered to the participants.

Results: The results supported that compromising and collaborating style in conflict management were associated with higher relationship satisfaction, whereas avoiding the conflict adversely affected the relationship satisfaction. The attachment to Chinese values was connected with a greater use of compromising style rather than avoiding style in managing intimate conflicts. Males were found to utilize more avoiding and compromising strategy and less competing strategy than females.

Discussion: Some practical implications can be drawn from the present results for dating couples. Since collaboration is associated with increased relationship satisfaction, collaborating style of conflict management should be encouraged in managing intimate conflicts.