PSYCHOLOGISCHE BEITRÄGE


Issue 3-4
Vol. 40
1998


Conflicts between generations in adulthood: data on prevalence and forms of manifestation from a representative survey

S.-H. Filipp, Th. Boll

The prevalence of inter- and intragenerational conflicts is assessed in a large sample of the middle-aged and old-aged German population. N = 4017 adult subjects ranging in age from 40 to 85 years indicated current personal conflicts with regard to the relative age of conflict partners (e.g., younger, older, same age), intra- vs. extrafamilial location of conflict, and conflict behaviour. More than ten percent of the subjects reported current intergenerational conflicts, involving family members more often than persons not belonging to one’s family. The prevalence of intergenerational conflicts increased and prevalence of intragenerational conflicts decreased with respondents’ age. Women were more frequently engaged in conflicts with older persons, especially family members. Results are discussed with respect to underlying processes that could mediate the covariation between sociodemographic variables and frequency of intergenerational conflicts. A strategy for further research on intergenerational conflicts is sketched.

Key words: intergenerational relations, parent child relations, conflict, adulthood

Psychologische Beiträge, Volume 40, 1998, p. 235-253

Prof. Dr. Sigrun-Heide Filipp
Fachbereich I - Psychologie
Universität Trier
Universitätsring 15
D-54286 Trier
E-mail:
filipp@uni-trier.de





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