Romantic Bonds in Young Adulthood: Links With Family Experiences

Abstract

Links between young adults’ romantic relationships and experiences in the family of origin were assessed in two qualitative studies. Study 1 employed a sample of individuals in relatively new dating relationships, whereas participants in Study 2 were in longer–term relationships. In both studies, participants were given an unstructured task which required them to talk about their current dating relationship. The majority of participants in both studies reported links between family experiences and functioning of the dating relationship. Themes which emerged across studies concerned the perceived effects of the quality of relationships within the family of origin, and the nature of relations with members of the partner’s family. In addition, other family themes emerged which were largely specific to either new or established relationships. The results are discussed in terms of congruence and compensation hypotheses, and in terms of the mechanisms which may underlie the links between family experiences and romantic relationships.