The Effect Of Perceived Parental Conflict On College Students’ Coping Styles: The Mediating Role Of Self-differentiation And The Moderating Role Of Cognitive Reappraisal

The effects of perceived parental conflict on children are long-lasting and profound.Even when children are away from their parents,away from the conflict between them,and when they enter university and begin to live independently,the effects of parental conflict continue to operate and influence all aspects of children’s lives,especially in their choice of coping styles.In order to explore the mechanisms by which perceived parental conflict affects coping styles and to reduce the impact of parental conflict on college students’ coping styles,this study introduces the additional concepts of self-differentiation and cognitive reappraisal in conducting the research.This study examines the specificities of four variables: perceived parental conflict,coping style,self-differentiation and cognitive reappraisal,and explores the mediating role of self-differentiation in the relationship between perceived parental conflict and coping style,and the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal in the relationship between perceived parental conflict,coping style and self-differentiation.Based on the influence mechanisms of perceived parental conflict,self-differentiation and cognitive reappraisal on coping styles,this study provides a theoretical reference for enhancing positive coping strategies and reducing negative coping strategies among university students.The questionnaires were distributed to first-to final-year students at three universities in Liaoning Province.SPSS 26.0 and the Process plug-in were used for statistical analysis to investigate the effects of perceived parental conflict on individual coping styles,The mediating role of self-differentiation and the moderating role of cognitive reappraisal.The following conclusions were drawn from the study.(1)Factors influencing the coping styles of university students include stability and situational factors.Among them,perceived parental conflict and the level of individual self-differentiation have an important influence on the choice of their coping styles.(2)Self-differentiation mediates the relationship between perceived parental conflict and positive and negative coping styles,and perceived parental conflict indirectly influences individuals’ positive and negative coping styles through self-differentiation.(3)Cognitive reappraisal moderates the relationship between perceived parental conflict and self-differentiation.That is,the negative impact of perceived parental conflict on self-differentiation decreases as the level of cognitive reassessment of college students increases.Based on the findings of this study,the following recommendations are made: firstly,to reduce destructive parental conflict from the family;secondly,multiple interventions can be made at home and school to enhance students’ level of self-differentiation;thirdly,to strengthen the school aspect of education,focusing on developing students’ cognitive reassessment skills.