How long-term couples handle conflict

Prior research supports that as people get older, they place less importance on arguments.

For long-term couples, a new United States study reveals the most common strategy for handling conflicts: just change the subject.

Researchers from San Francisco State University followed 127 middle-aged and older long-term married couples over a period of 13 years, keeping tabs on how they managed conflicts on everything from housework to finances. Researchers videotaped couples having 15-minute discussions, noting their communication style around contentious topics.