Abstract
AbstractPositive close relationships with immediate close network members are associated with healthy adjustment among emerging adults (EA). These influence the initiation and maintenance of romantic relationships. A cross‐sectional study (N = 630) explored the role of perceived parental and friend support for the current romantic relationship in relationship quality among early EA (EEA; 18–21 years) and middle EA (MEA; 22–25 years) heterosexuals. Structural equation modeling results showed that in EEA, greater friend support was associated with greater commitment, satisfaction, and investments, and less quality of alternatives. Greater parental support was associated with greater commitment, satisfaction, and investments in MEA. This research advances literature by showing different associations between sources of social support and relationship quality in two EA age groups.
Highlights
The co-construction and development of positive close emotional relationships with parents and friends is fundamental for individuals’ psychological and physical health across the life span (e.g., Takahashi, 2005; Walen & Lachman, 2000)
Motivated by the need to investigate the role of different sources of social support for well-being (e.g., Uchino, 2009), our research examined whether perceived parental and friend support for the current romantic relationship were differently associated with relationship quality in emerging adults (EA) and whether those sources of support were likely to be important in early and middle years of emerging adulthood
To examine differences across early EA (EEA) and middle EA (MEA) in associations between parental and friend support to each relationship quality indicator, we compared this constrained model to models in which each social support path was allowed to vary freely (Models 5a to 5h)
Summary
The co-construction and development of positive close emotional relationships with parents and friends is fundamental for individuals’ psychological and physical health across the life span (e.g., Takahashi, 2005; Walen & Lachman, 2000). Perceived support from parents and friends is important for the development and maintenance of romantic relationships, it is not entirely clear whether both sources of support are central during the transition from adolescence into adulthood. Motivated by the need to investigate the role of different sources of social support for well-being (e.g., Uchino, 2009), our research examined whether perceived parental and friend support for the current romantic relationship were differently associated with relationship quality in emerging adults (EA) and whether those sources of support were likely to be important in early and middle years of emerging adulthood. Individuals experience greater commitment when they feel more satisfied, perceive less quality among alternatives, or when are heavily invested in the relationship
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