CROSS-SITUATIONAL PATTERNS IN CHILDRENS COPING WITH OBSERVED INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT

Investigated cross-situational patterns in children's coping with obse rved interpersonal conflict. Children in Grades 4, 5, 7, and 8 (N = 41 7) reported on their use of five coping responses when exposed to conf lict they observed between the adults in their homes and between their peers. Although children reported using the same relative pattern of coping responses across situations (i.e, distancing/denial the most, s upport seeking the least), they used a much higher level of internaliz ing/worrying responses when exposed to the adult conflict situation th an the peer conflict situation. Sex and development differences were n ot consistent across observed interpersonal conflict situations.