Exploring the Mediating Role of Communication Styles in the Relationship
Between Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Resolution in Romantic
Relationships
Aim: To examine the role of emotional intelligence on conflict resolution in romantic
relationships with an emphasis on communication styles as the mediating role/
Objectives:
To examine the relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict resolution in
romantic relationships
To examine the role of communication styles in conflict resolution in romantic
relationships
To explore the mediating role of communication styles between emotional
intelligence and conflict resolution in romantic relationships
Hypothesis:
Emotional intelligence is positively associated with effective conflict resolution in
romantic relationships
Communication styles play a mediating role between emotional intelligence and
conflict resolution
Research questions:
1. What is the relationship between emotional intelligence and conflict resolution in
romantic relationships?
2. How do individual differences in emotional intelligence affect the choice of
communication style during conflicts in romantic relationships?
3. How do different communication styles influence conflict resolution in romantic
relationships?
4. Does emotional intelligence predict the use of constructive versus destructive
communication styles in conflict resolution in romantic relationships?
Review of Literature:
Relationships serve as a backbone to human life providing companionship and a sense of
belonging. They have an integral role in fostering an individual’s social and emotional
stability shaping how individuals navigate the world around them. Emotional intelligence is a
cornerstone of fulfilling relationships that equips individuals with the ability to manage and
understand their emotions successfully. Emotional intelligence involves recognizing and
perceiving feelings to create an emotion (Pooya et al., 2013). It enhances thinking and
enables individuals to become more self-aware. This in turn helps in managing relationships
effectively.
Conflicts are unavoidable in intimate relationships (Cahn, 1992). Individuals in a relationship
vary with what they bring to the plate including family backgrounds, cultural values,
communication styles etc., when these difference cannot be resolved, conflicts become
inevitable. Conflict resolution is an important area of research primarily for two reasons.
Firstly, poor conflict resolution has become the most common reason that couples bring to
therapy and secondly, unsuccessful conflict resolution leads to breakdown of the relationship
gradually (Hahlweg et al., 1984). Healthy ways of conflict resolution where individuals
engage in positive behaviours like listening and compromising report to be more satisfied in
their relationships than individuals who engage in negative behaviours like arguing and
attacking (Bradbury et al., 1993). The primary goal of research in conflict resolution is to
understand the conflict resolution behaviours incorporated by partners in stressful situations
(Noller et al., 1991). To understand how each individual adopts a conflict resolution
behaviour, it is essential to examine communication styles of the individual as a mediating
variable. For instance, individuals who score high on emotional intelligence tend to adopt
constructive communication styles such as active listening and constructiveness while
compared to individuals that score lesser on emotional intelligence. Subsequently
communication styles also plays a mediating role in conflict resolution. Majority of conflicts
in relationships happen due to misunderstandings, lack of assertiveness and poor
communication (Aggarwal et al., 2021).
Key gap found in the literature review involves a lack of studies that focus on how
communication styles as a mediating variable between emotional intelligence and conflict
resolution in romantic relationships. This variable as a mediator provides us with insightful
information of how communication styles adopted by people affect conflict resolution
depending on their emotional intelligence. Existing literature also does not focus on romantic
relationships which will further be explored through this research.
The above review of literature lays a strong foundation to investigate the interplay between
emotional intelligence, communication styles and conflict resolution in adult romantic
relationships. It emphasises how emotional intelligence influences choice of communication
style which in turn shapes the outcome of conflict resolution in adult romantic relationships.
Methodology
Research design: Quantitative, Cross-sectional
Participants: Individuals who are of the age 18 and above and have been in a non-marital
romantic relationship for at least the past 6 months to ensure sufficient interaction for conflict
resolution experiences.
Instruments and Scales:
Emotional intelligence: Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (Internal
consistency- .81; Test-retest reliability- .86)
Communication Style: Communication Style Questionnaire ( Cronbach's alpha- .80)
Conflict resolution: The Romantic Partner Conflict Scale (Cronbach's alpha- .87)
Procedure: Participants who meet the inclusion criteria will be eligible for the study. After
taking informed consent, a google form will be circulated which will involve the above
mentioned questionnaires. Participants will have to respond to all the items sincerely and
responses will be kept anonymous to maintain anonymity.
Data Analysis:
Descriptive Statistics- Means and standard deviation will be calculated for all
variables to summarize the dataset.
Correlation Analysis- Pearson’s correlation will be conducted to examine the
relationships between emotional intelligence, communication styles, and conflict
resolution.
Mediation Analysis- To check the influence of communication style as a mediating
variable.
Ethical considerations:
Ethical approval will be taken from the institution before beginning the study
Informed consent will be taken from the participants who meet the inclusion criteria
sand wish to take part in the study
Confidentiality of data will be assured to all participants.
References:
Aggarwal, R., Verma, T., & Agarwal, K. (2020). Conflict management-a challenge to resolve
through various communication styles. International Journal of Environment, Workplace and
Employment, 6(1-2), 40-55.
Cherry, M. G., Fletcher, I., & O’Sullivan, H. (2013). Exploring the relationships among
attachment, emotional intelligence and communication. Medical education, 47(3), 317-325.
Jordan, P. J., & Troth, A. C. (2021). Managing emotions during team problem solving:
Emotional intelligence and conflict resolution. In Emotion and performance (pp. 195-218).
CRC Press.
Jourdain, K. (2004). Communication styles and conflict. The Journal for Quality and
Participation, 27(2), 23.
Park, Y. S., & Jang, S. H. (2020). The Effects of Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, and
Communication Style on Stress Coping in College Students. The Journal of the Korea
Contents Association, 20(12), 555-566.
Pistole, M. C. (1989). Attachment in adult romantic relationships: Style of conflict resolution
and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 6(4), 505-
510. [Link]
Zeidner, M., & Kloda, I. (2013). Emotional intelligence (EI), conflict resolution patterns, and
relationship satisfaction: Actor and partner effects revisited. Personality and Individual
Differences, 54(2), 278-283.