The Relationship between Family Conflict Resolution and Behavioral Problems Among Adolescents with Serious Physical Illness

Background and Purpose:

Adolescents with serious physical illnesses are at an increased risk of experiencing behavioral health challenges that may negatively impact their development and overall well-being. Although the stress associated with serious physical illness can heighten susceptibility to emotional and behavioral issues, family dynamics, primarily how conflict is managed, may serve as a protective factor. Guided by Bowen’s Family Systems Theory, this study explores the relationship between family conflict resolution and behavioral problems in adolescents with serious physical illnesses. The study aimed to determine whether higher levels of family conflict resolution are associated with fewer behavioral problems in this population.

Methods:

This secondary analysis utilized the 2003 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). The study sample consisted of 5,276 adolescents aged 12 to 17 who had visited an emergency room within the past year and were identified as having a serious physical illness. Family conflict resolution was assessed using a 4-item cumulative measure, the Family Conflict Resolution Scale, while adolescent behavioral problems were evaluated using the 11-item Behavioral Problems Index (BPI). Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses examined the association between family conflict resolution and behavioral outcomes, controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors, including age, gender, ethnicity, household structure, parental education, and poverty status.

Results:

Results indicated a statistically significant, negative correlation between family conflict resolution and adolescent behavioral problems. Regression analysis revealed that gender, minority status, household structure, and conflict resolution were significant predictors of behavioral problems. However, age, poverty status, and parental education were insignificant predictors in the final model.

Conclusion and Implications:

The findings highlight family conflict resolution as a protective factor against behavioral problems in adolescents with serious physical illness. In alignment with Family Systems Theory, the results suggest that emotionally supportive family environments, where conflict is resolved constructively, may buffer adolescents from the psychological impacts of serious physical illness. Social work clinicians are encouraged to incorporate family-centered conflict resolution strategies into treatment plans and interventions to enhance emotional well-being and mitigate behavioral issues. Policies and programs that foster family cohesion in medically vulnerable households may serve as effective preventive measures for improving adolescent behavioral health.