The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of maladaptive coping strategies on clingy, conflict and satisfaction of dating relationship among college students. The participants were 518 college students in Cheongju. Data were analyzed by fre...
The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of maladaptive coping strategies on clingy, conflict and satisfaction of dating relationship among college students. The participants were 518 college students in Cheongju. Data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, Cronbach’s α, t-test, F-test, Tukey post-hoc test and correlation by using SPSS 18.0 program. The test of model was done with analysis of correlation matrix in AMOS 18.0 program for path analysis.
The results of this study were as follows:
First, females showed more avoidance and self-punishment of coping strategy than males. The higher family economic level were, the more self-punishment of coping strategy college students showed. The students who had a romantic relationship once or twice showed the higher self-punishment of coping strategy than the students had more than twice.
Second, male students showed higher relational clingingness than females. The freshmen showed the lowest relational conflict, however the juniors showed the highest relational conflict. The shortest period of romantic relationships the students had, the lowest relational conflict they had. College students who had a plan to marry showed the higher relational clinginess, the lower relational conflict, and relational satisfaction than students who had no plan to marry.
Third, self-punishment of coping strategy had a direct effect on relational clinginess while avoidance of coping strategy had influence directly on relational conflict of both male and female college students.
Fourth, strategy of avoidance of male students and self-punishment strategy of female students had no direct effects on relational satisfaction whereas avoidance of coping strategy had a direct effect on relational satisfaction of female students.
Fifth, the relational clinginess had a direct effect on relational conflict of female students whereas relational clinginess of male students did not have any influence on relational conflict.
Sixth, relational clinginess and conflict of both male and female students have influenced directly on relational satisfaction. That is, the higher clinginess, the more satisfaction in relationships while the more conflict, the lower satisfaction in relationships.
Seventh, for both male and female students, avoidance of coping strategy had an indirect influence on relational satisfaction through relational conflict. For male college students, self-punishment of coping strategy had an indirect influence on relational satisfaction through relational clinginess, whereas strategy of self-punishment had an indirect effect on relational satisfaction through relational clinginess and conflict.
In conclusion, the results of this study provide the preliminary data for educational programs and counseling to enhance the relational satisfaction and suggest that maladaptive coping strategies of college students are required to consider for enhancing stable relationships.