COHORT DIFFERENCES IN INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE OLDER PATIENT YOUNGER CARE PROVIDER INTERACTION

This investigation uncovers a relation between lifespan stage, conflic t styles, depth of conflict, and conflict satisfaction. Younger adults rated their general style preference for a controlling conflict style significantly higher than older adults, and indicated decreased satis faction with a nonconfrontational conflict style and significantly hig her preference for a nonconfrontational conflict style as depth of con flict increased. Older adults rated their general style preference for a solution-oriented conflict style significantly higher than younger adults. Cross-sectional results indicate that a cohort's conflict beha viors and satisfaction with those behaviors are different across the l ifespan. Implications of these results are framed in the specific cont ext of older adult-younger care provider conflict interactions.