Dispositional Predictors of Students' Conflict Resilience

Objective. The study of dispositional predictors of students' conflict resilience.
Background. Against the background of the consequences of self-isolation and the limitations of real communication, it is relevant to study resilience to conflicts as an important communicative and professional characteristic of social self-determination. The study of dispositional predictors of conflict resilience allows creating scientifically based programs for its formation among students.
Study design. The influence of the severity of stress, aggression, empathy, assertiveness and other independent variables on conflict resilience, considered as a dependent variable, was studied. Statistical hypotheses were verified by means of factor analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM).
Participants. The sample consisted of students of the natural sciences and humanities faculties of St. Petersburg State University in the number of 205 people, 49 of them men (24%) and 156 women (76%), aged 17 to 27 years, the median value is 19 years.
Methods (tools). Questionnaire Determination of the level of conflict resilience (N.P. Fetiskin, V.V. Kozlov, G.M. Manuilov); Personality assertiveness test (V.P. Sheinov); PSM-25 psychological stress scale, in adaptation by Vodopyanova N.E.; diagnostic questionnaire for empathy A. Mehrabian, N. Epstein; diagnostic questionnaire for indicators and forms of aggression A. Bass, A. Darkey.
Results. Because of confirmatory factor analysis, the variables stress, hostility, irritation were combined into the factor "paranoia" (suspicion, suspiciousness, resentment, stress and irritability). The variables verbal, physical, indirect types of aggression and negativism are combined into the factor "aggressiveness" (contradiction to the norms of society and the focus on causing harm to others). The variables empathy, assertiveness (–), guilt are combined into the "tolerance" factor (empathy, the desire to understand the reasons for the behavior of another, compliance and auto-aggression due to regular sacrifice of one's own interests). The joint influence of these factors on conflict resistance was revealed, the total variance is 55%. "Paranoia" and "aggression" reduce conflict resilience and promote conflict striving, "tolerance" enhances conflict resilience, but at high values, causes conflict avoidance.
Conclusions. Psychological dispositions that affect conflict resilience can be combined into three factors: paranoia, aggression, tolerance, which have a multidirectional effect. Paranoia and aggression promote conflict-seeking behavior and reduce conflict resilience. Tolerance increases conflict resilience, but contributes to conflict avoidance. This conflict resilience dynamics can be described by an inverted V-shaped curve, which shows that conflict resilience arises because of a balance of the identified factors.

1. Abramenko E.V., Efimov E.G. Issledovanie stressoustoichivostii konfliktnosti v kontekste psikhologicheskoi bezopasnosti studenta [Study of stress resistance and conflict in the context of student's psychological safety]. Kazanskii pedagogicheskii zhurnal = Kazan Pedagogical Journal, 2019, no. 3(134), pp. 89–93. (In Russ.).
2. Antsupov A.Ya., Shipilov A.I. Konfliktologiya: uchebnik [Conflictology: textbook]. Saint-Petersburg: “Piter”, 2020. 560 p. (In Russ.).
3. Afanasenko M.S., Grishai Zh.G., Zenina Yu.M. Snizhenie konfliktnosti v obshchestve kak funktsiya obrazovaniya I vospitaniya molodezhi [Reducing conflict in society as a function of education and upbringing of youth]. Gumanitarnye, sotsial'no-ekonomicheskie i obshchestvennye nauki = Humanitarian, socio-economic and social sciences, 2018, no. 4, pp. 2–5. (In Russ.).
4. Batkhina A.A., Lebedeva N.M. Prediktory vybora russkimi strategii povedeniya v mezhkul'turnom konflikte [Predictors of the Russians' Choice of Behavior Strategy in Intercultural Conflic]. Sotsial'naya psikhologiya i obshchestvo = Social Psychology and Society, 2019. Vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 70–91. DOI:10.1775.sps.2019100105 (In Russ.).
5. Valiullina E.V. Konfliktoustoichivost' i prinyatie drugikh u studentov meditsinskogo vuza v ramkakh kompetentnostnogo podkhoda [Conflict resistance and acceptance of others among students of a medical university in the framework of a competency-based approach]. Nauchnoe obozrenie. Pedagogicheskie nauki = Scientific Review, 2020, no. 4, pp. 53–57. (In Russ.).
6. Vasil'ev N.N. Formirovanie konfliktologicheskoi kompetentnosti u pedagogov-psikhologov sredstvami psikhologicheskogo treninga [Formation of conflictological competence among educational psychologists by means of psychological training]. Problemy sovremennogo pedagogicheskogo obrazovaniya = Problems of modern pedagogical education, 2016, no. 51-2, pp. 312–318. (In Russ.).
7. Vodop'yanova N.E., Starchenkova E.S. Sindrom vygoraniya. Diagnostika i profilaktika: prakticheskoe posobie [Diagnosis and prevention: a practical guide]. 3-e izd., ispr. i dop. Moscow: Publ. “Yurait”, 2017. 343 p. (Professional'naya praktika [Professional practice]). (In Russ.).
8. Grishina N. Psikhologiya konflikta [Psychology of conflict]. 3-e izd., Saint-Petersburg: Publ. “Piter”, 2018. 576 p. (In Russ.).
9. Kashapov M.M., Ogorodova T.V., Filippovich Kh.N. Tipy reagirovaniya v konflikte i ikh svyaz' s dominiruyushchimi psikhicheskimi sostoyaniyami sportsmenov [Types of response in conflict and their connection with the dominant mental states of athletes]. Vestnik Sankt-Peterburgskogo universiteta. Psikhologiya = Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Psychology, 2018. Vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 182–192. (In Russ.).
10. Kutumova A.K., Neustroeva A.B. Faktory konfliktogennosti studencheskoi sredy Respubliki Sakha (Yakutiya) [Factors of conflictogenicity of the student environment of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)]. Konfliktologiya = Conflictology, 2021, no. 1, pp. 43–53. DOI:10.7256/2454-0617.2021.1.33329 (Accessed 16.07.2022). (In Russ.).
11. Lanskikh M.V., Kucheryavenko I.A., Tkachenko N.S. Formirovanie konfliktoustoichivosti sovremennykh studentov [Formation of conflict resistance of modern students]. Problemy sovremennogo pedagogicheskogo obrazovaniya = Problems of modern pedagogical education, 2016, no. 51-5, pp. 548–555. (In Russ.).
12. Lanskikh M.V., Ponomarev A.S. Formirovanie konfliktoustoichivosti sotrudnikov organizatsii [Formation of conflict resistance of employees of the organization]. Nauchnye vedomosti: seriya Gumanitarnye nauki = Nauchnye Vedomosti: Humanities series, 2016, no. 7(29), pp. 167–173. (In Russ.).
13. Lepekhin N.N. Konflikt-menedzhment v organizatsii: ot uregulirovaniya k transformatsii konflikta [Conflict management in an organization: from conflict resolution to transformation]. Peterburgskii psikhologicheskii zhurnal = Petersburg Psychological Journal, 2012, no. 1, pp. 1–35. (In Russ.).
14. Lepekhin N.N., Tikhomirova N.V. Psikhologicheskie prediktory ustoichivosti molodezhi v konflikte [Psychological predictors of youth stability in conflict]. Materialy III Sankt-Peterburgskogo mezhdunarodnogo congressa konfliktologov “Konfliktologiya XXI veka. Puti I sredstva ukrepleniya mira” (g. Sankt–Peterburg, 15–16 noyabrya 2019 g.) [Proceedings of the III of the III St. Petersburg International Congress of Conflictologists “Conflictology of the XXI century. Ways and means of strengthening peace”]. Sankt-Petersburg: SPBU, 2019, pp. 206–209. (In Russ.).
15. Markova N.G. Konfliktoustoichivost' kak konstruktivnoe kachestvo lichnosti [Conflict resistance as a constructive quality of personality]. Novaya nauka: problemy i perspektivy = New science: problems and prospects, 2016, no. 3–2(67), pp. 125–126. (In Russ.).
16. Metakognitivnye osnovy konfliktnoi kompetentnosti [Metacognitive foundations of conflict competence]. In prof. Kashapov M.M. Yaroslavl': Publ. YarGU, 2012. 428 p. (In Russ.).
17. Mironova A.A. Ispol'zovanie informatsionno-kommunikatsionnykh tekhnologii i sotsial'nyi kapital: priroda vzaimosvyazi [The use of information and communication technologies and social capital: the nature of the relationship]. Sotsial'naya psikhologiya i obshchestvo = Social psychology and society, Vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 5–21. DOI:10.17759.sps.2022130101 (In Russ.).
18. Mityaeva A.M. Konfliktologicheskaya kompetentnost' budushchego spetsialista kak predmet nauchnogo issledovaniya [Conflictological competence of a future specialist as a subject of scientific research]. Uchenye zapiski Orlovskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Seriya: Gumanitarnye i sotsial'nye nauki = Scientific notes of Orel state university. Series: Humanities and social sciences, 2012, no. 4(48), pp. 273–280. (In Russ.).
19. Osnovy psikhologii: praktikum [Fundamentals of psychology: workshop]. In Stolyarenko L.D. Rostov-na-Donu: Publ. “Feniks”, 426 p. (In Russ.).
20. Platonov Yu.P. Prakticheskaya konfliktologiya: uchebnoe posobie [Practical conflictology: textbook]. Saint-Petersburg: Publ. “Rech'”, 2009. 376 p. (In Russ.).
21. Pochebut L.G., Chiker V.A., Volkova N.V. Sotsial'no-psikhologicheskaya model' kognitivnogo sotsial'nogo kapitala organizatsii: factory formirovaniya i ob"ektivatsiya [Socio-psychological model of the organization’s cognitive social capital: factors of formation and objectification]. Organizatsionnaya psikhologiya = Organizational psychology, 2018. Vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 29–59. (In Russ.).
22. Tikhomirova N.V., Lepekhin N.N. Psikhologicheskie prediktory konfliktoustoichivosti studentov [Psychological predictors of students' conflict tolerance]. In Shaboltas A.V. Sbornik tezisov uchastnikov mezhdunarodnoi nauchnoi konferentsii molodykh uchenykh “Psikhologiya XXI veka”. Psikhologicheskie issledovaniya: ot teorii k praktike (g. Sankt–Peterburg, 21-23 aprelya 2021 g.) [Proceedings of the international scientific conference of young scientists “Psychology of the XXI century”. Psychological research: from theory to practice]. Saint-Petersburg: SPBU, 2021, pp. 192–193. (In Russ.).
23. Tylets V.G., Krasnyanskaya T.M., Iokhvidov V.V. Stsenarii lichnoi bezopasnosti sub"ekta konfliktnogo vzaimodeistviya [Scenarios of personal security of the subject of conflict interaction]. Sotsial'naya psikhologiya i obshchestvo = Social psychology and society, 2022. Vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 159–173. DOI:10.17759.sps.2022130110 (In Russ.).
24. Ushamirskii A.E. Sotsial'nye konflikty v predstavleniyakh molodezhi [Social conflicts in the minds of young people]. Teoriya i praktika obshchestvennogo razvitiya = Theory and practice of social development, 2020, no. 1(143), pp. 53–60. (In Russ.).
25. Fetiskin N.P., Kozlov V.V., Manuilov G.M. Sotsial'no-psikhologicheskaya diagnostika razvitiya lichnosti i malykh grupp [Socio-psychological diagnostics of personality development and small groups]. Moscow: Publ. Instituta Psikhoterapii, 2002. 490 p. (In Russ.).
26. Khvan A.A., Zaitsev Yu.A., Kuznetsova Yu.A. Standartizirovannyi oprosnik izmereniya agressivnykh I vrazhdebnykh reaktsii A. Bassa i A. Darki (metodicheskie rekomendatsii) [Standardized questionnaire for measuring aggressive and hostile reactions by A. Bass and A. Darki (guidelines)]. Kemerovo: Publ. Kuzbasskaya gosudarstvennaya pedagogicheskaya akademiya. Fakul'tet pedagogiki i psikhologii. Laboratoriya psikhologicheskikh issledovanii, 2005. 69 p. (In Russ.).
27. Sheinov V.P. Assertivnoe povedenie: preimushchestva i vospriyatie [Assertive behavior: advantages and perception]. Sovremennaya zarubezhnaya psikhologiya = Modern foreign psychology, 2014, no. 3(2), pp. 107–120. (In Russ.).
28. Aall P., Crocker C.A. Building Resilience and Social Cohesion in Conflict. Global Policy, 2019. Vol. 10(S2), pp. 68–75.
29. Afolabi O.A. Indigenous emotional intelligence scale: Development and validation. Psychological Thought, 2017. Vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 138–154.
30. Chew Q.H., Wei K.C., Vasoo S., Chua H.C., Sim K. Narrative synthesis of psychological and coping responses towards emerging infectious disease outbreaks in the general population: practical considerations for the COVID-19 pandemic. Singapore Medical Journal, 2020. Vol. 61, no. 7, pp. 350–356.
31. Courtain A., Glowacz F. Youth’s Conflict Resolution Strategies in their Dating Relationships. A. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 2019. Vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 256–268.
32. Duvenage M., Correia H., Uink B., Barber B.L., Donovan C.L., Modecki K.L. Technology can sting when reality bites: Adolescents’ frequent online coping is ineffective with momentary stress. Computers in Human Behavior, 2020. Vol. 102, pp. 248–259.
33. Eisenberg D. Think of Resilience as a Verb, Not a Noun [Electronic resource]. Resilience Engineering Association, URL: https://www.resilience-engineering-association.org/blog/2020/04/06/think-of-resilience-as-a-verb-not-a-noun/ (Accessed 19.04.2020).
34. Glasl F. Selbsthilfe in Konflikten: Konzepte – Übungen – praktische Methoden. Stuttgart: VerlagFreies Geistesleben – Bern: Haupt Verlag, 2015. 214 p.
35. Hamilton D. Examining perception of emotional intelligence in online professors. Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia, 2018. Vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 63–81.
36. Hartmann S. et al. Resilience in the Workplace: A Multilevel Review and Synthesis. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 2020. Vol. 69, no. 3, pp. 913–959.
37. Heckman J.J., Corbin C.O. Capabilities and Skills. Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, 2016. Vol. 17, no. 3, pp. 342–359.
38. Konrad T., Wiek A., Barth M. Embracing conflicts for interpersonal competence development in project-based sustainability courses. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 76–96.
39. Motornaya S.E. Managing conflict situations for contemporary youth: Discourse and choice of strategy. Espacios, Vol. 40, no. 17, pp. 894–910.
40. Notelaers G., Van der Heijden B., Guenter H., Nielsen M.B., Einarsen S.V. Do Interpersonal Conflict, Aggression and Bullying at the Workplace Overlap? A Latent Class Modeling Approach. Frontiers in Psychology, 2018. Vol. 9, pp. 1743.
41. Pender E.R., Elgoibar P., Munduate L., Garcia A.B., Euwema M.C. Improving social dialogue: What employers expect from employee representatives. Economic and Labour Relations Review, Vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 169–189.