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Learning Objective: 1-4: Discuss the two traditions in psychology that influence the study of adjustment.

Roberson, P. N. E., Fish, J. N., Olmstead, S. B., & Fincham, F. D.  (August, 2015).  College adjustment, relationship satisfaction, and conflict management: A cross-lag assessment of developmental “spillover”.  Emerging Adulthood, 3 (4), 244 – 254.  doi: 10.1177/2167696815570710

Description: Emerging adulthood is a period in the life course that consists of several developmental tasks, including occupational and relationship exploration. Consistent with the developmental tasks of this period, we tested a model of individual development. Using a sample of emerging adults in romantic relationships (N = 267), we examined the longitudinal association between conflict management and relationship satisfaction and subsequent college adjustment using two cross-lag path analyses. In the first path analyses, results indicated conflict management and social adjustment are mutually influential over time. In this second path analyses, conflict management is related to academic adjustment through relationship satisfaction. Implications for romantic relationship education for emerging adults and future research are discussed.

Questions to Consider:

1. In this article, you learned that college students that “report more satisfaction with their relationship and better conflict management skills also reported better adjustment to academic aspects of college.”  How can you explain this finding within Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory?

2. In the Roberson et al. study, what relationship was found among conflict management, social adjustment, and academic adjustment?

1. Conflict management skills and social adjustment mutually influenced one’s adjustment to college over time. (Correct answer)
2. Conflict management skills had little influence on college adjustment.
3. Social adjustment was negatively correlated with academic adjustment.
4. Neither conflict management skills nor social adjustment impacted academic adjustment.

3. Based upon the research in the Roberson et al. study, which of the below students is most likely to do well academically?

1. Tanisha, who has great conflict resolution skills, but is in a rocky romantic relationship.
2. Sampson, who has socially adjusted, but is still working on developing conflict resolution skills.
3. Khalil, who has effective conflict resolution skills and has socially adjusted to college.
4. Brandon, who has socially adjusted, has effective conflict resolution skills, and is in a satisfying romantic relationship.  (Correct answer)