1994 Articles

Constructive Conflict Management and Coping in Homeless Children Adolescents

Redlener, Irwin E.; Boardman, Susan K.; Horowitz, Sandra V.

In this largely exploratory study of the conflict management and coping behavior of homeless adolescents, the authors interviewed 176 families (mother-adolescent dyads) living in New York City welfare hotels. Results indicated that peer conflict was the "worst" problem of the previous month as reported by approximately 50% of these youth. Homeless adolescents demonstrated conflict management and coping patterns that differed in certain respects from adolescent patterns previously described in the literature. The implications of these differences as well as directions for future research are discussed.