Status transitions and future outlook as determinants of conflict: the caregiver's and care receiver's perspective.

This study examined the effects of status transitions and future outlook on conflict from the perspective of both caregiver and care receiver. As predicted, future outlook had a powerful association with dyadic conflict. Other strong predictors of conflict for care receivers were current state of happiness and changes in the relationship over a 3-year period. For caregivers, conflict was associated with care receivers' lack of social participation with family and friends, and changes in dyadic relationship.