Interpersonal Communication Patterns in Final Students’ Conflict with Parents in Encouraging Timely Graduates

As a student city, Yogyakarta has a reputation as a centre of education and intellectuals in Indonesia. Yogyakarta is the home of several leading universities, such as Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, and several other private universities that attract students from all over the country and abroad. The importance of resolving interpersonal conflicts between final-year students who are writing their thesis with their parents is a determining factor in graduation amidst the pressure of academic tasks faced. This study also describes various factors that cause the application of communication patterns in conflict resolution. This type of research is qualitative descriptive, aiming to understand, explain, and describe related phenomena. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with four pairs of informants involved in the conflict. Data were analyzed using interactive techniques involving interactions between data collection elements, data presentation, data reduction, and conclusion. The findings revealed the application of empathetic communication patterns in two pairs of informants and defensive communication patterns in two pairs of informants. The empathetic communication patterns carried out by couples AB and EF led them to find a solution to their conflict. Feelings of mutual respect and understanding of each other’s conditions are the keys to finding a way out. The defensive communication pattern carried out by the CD and GH couples ultimately causes stress in children. They cannot understand each other’s feelings. Several factors that influence the implementation of this pattern include learning independence, resilience, parenting patterns, and financial power.