Communication accommodation theory has provided the theoretical framework for much of the research in intergenerational communication between young and older adults (Giles, Coupland, & Coupland, 1991). In general, prior research in this area has revealed nonaccomodative communication (e.g., under- and over-accommodation) from and toward older adults, which is harmful, negative, and inappropriate (e.g., Giles & Williams, 1994; Williams & Giles, 1996). This content analysis added to the growing body of research in intergenerational conflict (Wiebe & Zhang, 2017; Zhang & Lin, 2009) and focused on US older adults’ reports of intergenerational communication in a recent conflict. Voluntary participants (N = 181; M age = 74.38, SD = 6.92, age range = 63–95) were randomly assigned to provide a written account of a conflict scenario with a grandchild or a nonfamily young adult. These written scenarios (i.e., 96 with grandchildren and 85 with nonfamily young adults) were analyzed to uncover conflict initiating factors. Chi-square analysis indicated that old-to-young criticism (n = 57), disagreement/generation gap (n = 49), young-to-old rebuff (n = 32), cumulative annoyance (n = 26), and young-to-old criticism (n = 14) initiated intergenerational conflict. Specifically, results revealed that disagreement/generation gap was reported more frequently in conflicts with grandchildren and old-to-young criticism was reported more frequently in conflicts with nonfamily young adults. The predominance of old-to-young criticism replicates a dark side of intergenerational communication that has been identified in prior research. Major findings are discussed considering intergenerational communication and communication accommodation theory.
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