Me. Metz et Sm. Dwyer, RELATIONSHIP CONFLICT-MANAGEMENT PATTERNS AMONG SEX DYSFUNCTION, SEX OFFENDER, AND SATISFIED COUPLES, Journal of sex & marital therapy, 19(2), 1993, pp. 104-122
A substantial amount Of research has distinguished specific behaviors
of distressed from nondistressed couples. Among this evidence are diff
erences in relationship conflict management styles. This investigation
examined differences in relationship satisfaction and conflict manage
ment styles among 30 sex dysfunction, 25 sex offender, and 26 satisfie
d couples assessed by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and the Styles
of Conflict Inventory (SCI). Results indicate significantly different
levels of marital adjustment and distinctive conflict management patt
erns among the three couples groups. The two sex problem groups were s
ignificantly more distressed than the satisfied couples, and sex offen
der couples appeared more conflicted than sex dysfunction couples. Com
pared to satisfied couples, sex dysfunction couples address relationsh
ip conflict with somewhat polarized roles with an ''avoid vs. engage''
tern, while sex offender couples employ a more chaotic ''engage-avoid
vs. engage-avoid'' style. These different patterns of reactivity to c
onflict suggest that individualized treatment approaches to this dimen
sion of the clinical picture is warranted.