Family Dynamics: Family-of-Origin Cohesion During Adolescence and Adult Romantic Relationships

Abstract

Using data from 11,339 youth participating in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), this study explored the influence of cohesion within the family of origin and family structure during adolescence on the number of adult romantic relationships. Multiple regression analyses were performed using Mplus (Version 7.3; Muthen and Muthen in Mplus User’s Guide, 5th Ed, Muthen & Muthen, Los Angeles, 2007) finding adolescent family cohesion was positively associated with marriage and negatively associated with cohabitation. However, race/ethnicity and parental marital status provided meaningful context for these findings. Family cohesion was only linked with marital transitions for White adolescents. In addition, family cohesion only reduced cohabitation for participants whose parents were married during adolescence. Results point to the importance of socialization and modeling in families where parents are married, as well as in families who are demographically more likely to be married. Implications for couple and family therapists are discussed.