Understanding Family Conflicts in the Indian Context

Abstract

In a collectivist society like India, family is an integral part of life. Disequilibrium and conflicts at home can have repercussions on different domains of life. The present paper aims to get a better understanding of the sources of family conflicts and the influence it has on individuals. The sample for the study consisted of 341 respondents (114 males & 227 females) between the ages of 18 to 23 years. The questionnaire administered for the study was developed by the researchers and the data was collected online using Google Forms. Additionally, in-depth interviews and analysis of letters written to fathers was carried out in order to get a comprehensive perspective and varied insights. Over half of the participants claimed to have experienced adverse impacts on their mental health & personal life as a result of conflicts at home. Majority of the participants were also found to keep their thoughts and opinions to themselves in order to avoid familial arguments. Some of the major sources of conflicts were seen to be differences in opinions, poor communication, imposed restrictions, high expectations and sibling rivalry. Findings from the paper can allow future researchers to develop interventions aimed at fostering better relations for the betterment of all.