Development Of Romantic Relationships Research Articles

The longitudinal correlates of breakup distress in early young adulthood: Future distress and future benefits

Objectives: Existing research on romantic breakups focused on the predictors of breakup, or on its emotional and behavioral sequelae. The current study examines the longitudinal correlates of a breakup experience over a period of eight years, and questions whether breakup experiences may also have negative and positive outcomes. Methods: Data were collected from 124 Israeli emerging adults (mean age 20.22 years; 79 females). Participants were approached again at ages 23, 25, and 28. Breakup distress was assessed at each wave. At age 28, participants’ well-being, as well as their romantic capacities, were evaluated. Results: The intensity of breakup distress at age 20 was not found to be associated with future well-being. However, increased accumulating distress explained a greater number of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and reports of feeling insecure about a partner’s availability and responsiveness, at age 28. In-depth interviews with participants about their romantic relationships at age 28 showed that breakup distress at age 20 was associated with greater romantic competence at age 28, explaining better capacity to learn from past romantic experiences and draw lessons for future behavior. In addition, earlier breakup distress was associated with more coherent accounts of romantic relationships at age 28. Conclusions: Findings suggest that young adults are likely to experience a number of breakup events during their twenties, and the accumulating breakup experiences can affect future well-being. The experience of a breakup might not necessarily associate with negative future outcomes, while an earlier breakup experience could also serve as a positive learning arena for future relationships. Social policy: Perception of romantic dissolution in a comprehensive manner could be helpful for understanding that breakups are probably part of the normative development of romantic relationships among young adults, and should not be perceived only from a deficit perspective.

Romantic relationships attenuated competition between lovers: evidence from brain synchronization.

Competition is an essential component of social interaction and is influenced by interpersonal relationships. This study is based on social exchange theory and explores the relationship between brain synchronization and competition in the binary system of romantic relationships through electroencephalogram hyperscanning technology. The results found that females had a greater win rate in the romantic and friend groups. During the early stage (0-200ms), when the competitive target appeared, the stranger group exhibited greater interbrain synchronicity in the Alpha frequency band. However, during the later stage (600-800ms), the romantic group showed higher Alpha band interbrain synchrony when the competitive target appeared. Significant interbrain synchronizations were observed in the Theta frequency band of the stranger and friend groups at 400-600ms and 800-1000ms. Moreover, these interbrain synchronizations were significantly positively correlated with the winning rates of females in the competition. These findings suggest a close relationship between interpersonal coordination and interbrain synchronization. Furthermore, romantic relationships reduce participants' willingness to compete, affecting their attention regulation, emotional processing, and goal orientation, thus influencing competition. This study investigated the impact of romantic relationships on competition, providing a theoretical foundation for promoting the positive and healthy development of romantic relationships.

Exploring the Influence of Romantic Relationship Communication on Adolescents’ Self-Efficacy to Ask for Sexual Consent

ABSTRACT Adolescence represents a crucial period for sexual and romantic relationship development, and acquisition of skills and confidence essential for effective sexual consent communication. However, various barriers may interfere with adolescents’ belief in their ability (i.e., their self-efficacy) to negotiate consent in practice. This study aimed to investigate the state of adolescents’ self-efficacy to ask for consent and explore the influence of romantic relationship communication (a construct comprised of three characteristics: relationship assertiveness skills, positive conflict resolution, and communication awkwardness). Participants were 411 adolescents who had current or past relationships (61% girls, 77% Latine, 79% heterosexual). Participants generally reported above-average levels of self-efficacy to ask for consent (M = 4.14 out of 7, SD = 1.24), with LGBQ+ adolescents exhibiting statistically significantly higher levels of self-efficacy compared to heterosexual adolescents (M = 4.51 vs. 4.09, t = -2.66, p = .008). Self-efficacy to ask for consent was positively individually related to positive conflict resolution and relationship assertiveness skills, and negatively related to communication awkwardness (all ps < .001). In a path model, romantic relationship communication displayed a statistically significant association with adolescents’ self-efficacy to ask for consent, with high positive conflict resolution, low communication awkwardness, and high relationship assertiveness skills being associated with higher self-efficacy to ask for consent. Findings suggest improving adolescents’ romantic communication skills may enhance their self-efficacy to ask for consent, and contribute to increased rates of sexual consent communication. Intervention strategies should target multiple levels of influence to promote positive consent cognitions, behaviors, and cultural norms.

Preliminary Study on the Factors Influencing the Inception of Romantic Relationships in Adolescence

Based on literature that highlighted the importance of romantic relationships in adolescence and highlighted that parental attachment may play a decisive role in the development of romantic relationships, the present research aim to analyse, using tests and questionnaires, possible factors affecting the emergence of romantic relationships in adolescence considering parental attachment, quality of romantic relationships and self-esteem as variables. The data refer to a sample consisting initially of 99 adolescents (43 females and 56 males) between the ages of 14 and 17 years, attending an Italian Professional Institute. Subsequently, the study focused on subjects who claimed to be currently in a loving relationship (N=29). SPSS statistical software version 20.0 was used in the data analysis. The main results showed that a large part of the sample has secure attachment (44.8%), detected by SAT. Some of the main characteristics of love relationships (conflict, friendship, help, safety, intimacy, sexuality and future perspective) were taken into consideration. From the present study, the correlation between attachment and loving relationship does not appear to be confirmed, as claimed so far in the emerging literature, although the limited number of subjects involved may have been a limitation.

Analysis of Teenagers' Romantic Relationship Problems

Adolescent love, commonly known as "early love," refers to the act of young people under the age of 18 establishing a romantic relationship or developing a love for another person. The term "early love" is widely used in society and implies a negative conception from society compared to "adolescent love". There are many parents and teachers who do not accept the phenomenon of early love. In fact, can romantic relationships among adolescents really not exist? The paper discusses the pros and cons of teenage romantic relationships as well as discuss discuss the influence be affected by and have an impact on. This paper hopes that people will be able to see teenage romantic relationships from a different perspective. Many people have different views on teenage romantic relationships. The development of adolescent romantic relationships can have an impact on their surroundings and their own personalities as well as being influenced by their surroundings such as family upbringing.

The effects of similarity in personality and values on relationship satisfaction among dating couples: A response surface analysis

Past research has shown couple similarity contributes to the development of romantic relationships. Most findings, however, are based on traditional approaches (e.g., difference scores, profile correlations, etc.), which have been found to have major limitations. Using response surface analysis (RSA), this study examined the effects of similarity in personality and values on relationship satisfaction among 189 Chinese young dating couples in Hong Kong, with an attempt to integrate the two constructs. Results showed that alpha personality traits (i.e., Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) and Self-transcendence values had significant actor effects on relationship satisfaction of both genders. The partner effects of Conscientiousness and Agreeableness were also significant for both genders. Similarity effects of Conscientiousness and Self-transcendence values were significant in predicting relationship satisfaction among females only. In contrast, the beta personality (i.e., Extraversion and Openness to experience) and the other three values (i.e., Conservation, Openness to change, and Self-enhancement) did not show consistent effects across genders or any significant similarity effect in either gender. Collectively, this study highlights the importance of alpha personality traits and Self-transcendence values for relationship satisfaction among dating couples.

Emerging adult romantic relationship narratives during COVID‐19: Understanding relational challenges and opportunities

AbstractThis cross‐sectional study sought to understand how emerging adult college students currently in relationships experienced and dealt with COVID‐19 stress during a key time for romantic relationship development. Using a relational turbulence theory (RTT) framework, we examined romantic relationship narratives in three different groups of students for indicators of uncertainty (break‐up anxiety [BUA]), interference (conflict and negative emotion), facilitation (support), and coping strategies. Of particular interest was whether these indicators would vary as a function of when the stress of the pandemic was assumed to be more compared to less disruptive to relationships (Group 1 Fall 2020 and Group 2 Spring 2021, off campus/unvaccinated; Group 3 Fall 2021, on campus/vaccinated). As expected, students interviewed during periods when pandemic stress was assumed to be higher showed more break‐up anxiety, increased conflict, and angry word use to describe conflict events. However, contrary to expectations, sad emotions and support did not vary as a function of when students were interviewed. Regardless of when students were interviewed, there were several strategies they used to cope with the stresses of COVID‐19. The most frequent strategies students described were using technology/media to stay connected and taking steps to keep themselves and their families healthy.

Sex, Romance, and Technology: Efficiency, Predictability, and Standardization in College Dating Cultures

This article considers the extent that new forms of communication technologies developed in the last half century have contributed to new forms of sexual and romantic relationships flourishing among early adults in the United States. This project pays particular attention to the implications of that during the 2020 pandemic lockdowns and the increased dependency on technology that followed. This empirical work uses the theoretical framework provided by the scholarship of George Ritzer (2004), which focuses on the social narratives that drive labor into increasingly rational and functionalist operations, which he terms McDonaldization. This project uses interview data collected from college students to explore attitudes and social forms related to casual sex and the development of serious romantic relationships among participants. In an analysis of the data, three key trends have emerged that can be understood within Ritzer’s theoretical frame. Research participants utilize and value technologies within their intimate relationships as information filters that provide efficiency in creating relationships. They also demonstrate the use of technological, organizational, and connective tools as means to control relationships. Finally, technological tools and symbols signal a kind of semi-standardized symbol of commitment to the relationship, though the meaning of these signs is still contested.

Romantic Duration, Relationship Quality, and Attachment Insecurity among Dating Couples

For many young adults today dating is not taken as a path to marriage, but as a relationship to be considered on its own terms with a beginning, middle, and end. Yet, research has not kept pace as most studies that look at relationships over time focus on marriages. In the present study, we look at individual differences and normative patterns of dating relationship quality over time. We tested a path model of associations between relationship duration, attachment insecurity, and four relationship quality domains (sexual frequency, commitment, satisfaction, and companionship) among a large sample of dating young adults (N = 1345). Based on a conceptual model of romantic relationship development, results supported expectations that dating trajectories are curvilinear, with unique patterns of accent, peak, and decent for each relationship domain. Dating duration also moderated the relationship between dating quality and attachment insecurity with anxious attachment becoming a more salient predictor of lower satisfaction and lower commitment in long-term versus short-term relationships. A quadratic interaction with sexual frequency indicated that insecurity predicted less sexual activity in new relationships, more activity among relationships between two and four years, but then less again in longer-term relationships. Findings suggest patterns of stability and change in dating relationships during emerging adulthood that complement those observed from the marriage literature.

The process of contemporary gay identity development in China: The influence of internet use.

BackgroundAdolescence and emerging adulthood are critical periods for an individual's sexual identity development. The internet has become a primary avenue for gay identity exploration. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the internet in Chinese young gay male's sexual identity development.MethodsQualitative interviews were conducted with 37 gay males aged 16 to 29. Data were analyzed using grounded theory methods.ResultsThree categories of identity development in relation to use of the internet were identified: (1) Gay identity confirming, which includes verifying same-sex attraction and connecting the attraction feeling to gay identity through consumption of pornography, Tanbi (boy's love) materials, and searching for information online. (2) Gay identity practicing, includes interacting with the gay community to gain understandings of gay subcultures and make close gay friends, engaging in same-sex sexual and romantic relationship development through online group and interpersonal interactions. The internet practice impact on an individual's cognition and behavior by presenting same-sex sexual contact is normal and common, facilitating longing for a romantic relationship, and facilitating relationship development; and (3) Gay identity coping, includes increasing self-acceptance of gay identity, gaining a sense of belonging in the gay community, increasing autonomy in sexual and romantic relationship development, and growing consideration of coming out to parents. Young gay males' coping efficacy was gained through the lessons learned from identity practice.ConclusionThe findings indicate that an individual's internet practice facilitates gay identity confirmation, enriches identity practice, and promotes the transition from self-identification to identity disclosure and integration. Internet practice also threatens to young gay males' sexual risk behavior, emotional hurts from failed romantic relationships. Interventions including sexual identity education and healthy internet use strategies need to be developed tailored to the developmental characteristics.

Particular body odors matter: Disgust sensitivity differs across attachment groups

Extensive research has highlighted how one's attachment style influences the development and maintenance of romantic relationships. Disgust is a construct that conceptually overlaps with attachment style given both include elements of behavioral avoidance. However, no previous study has examined how one's attachment style may influence disgust-based avoidance of intimacy in romantic relationships. Therefore, the aim of the current study is to determine if adult attachment style is associated with olfactory disgust ratings towards eight body odor (BO) sources from their partner, previous partner, or others. The results revealed that disgust ratings of a partner's BO differed depending on attachment style. Specifically, the participants with a dismissing-avoidant attachment style rated their partner's BO as more disgusting than the secure, fearful-avoidant, or preoccupied styles. Moreover, participants with a dismissing-avoidant attachment style rated their partner's and strangers' BO equally disgusting whereas those in the other attachment groups rated strangers' BO as more disgusting than their partner's.

Effects of DARSI Intervention Program on Adolescents’ Perceptions of Love, Tolerance toward Abuse and Dating Violence Perpetration

Teen dating violence is a serious problem and intervention programs aimed at reducing this violence and helping adolescents to develop healthier romantic relationships are needed. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of the DARSI program on the development of a more adequate perception of love, the reduction of tolerance toward abuse in romantic relationships, and the reduction of the perpetration of dating violence in adolescents. The sample consisted of 129 adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years (M = 14.05, SD = 1.08). A repeated measures (pre-test and post-test) quasi-experimental design with an intervention group and a control group was used to assess the effects of the program. The results showed significant decreases in unhealthy perceptions of love (linking love with control and dependence), tolerance toward abuse in romantic relationships, and dating violence perpetration in the intervention group. Healthier perceptions of love (linking love with respect and communication) were observed in the intervention group after the implementation of this program. These findings support the implementation in educational contexts of programs focused on the development of non-violent and healthy romantic relationships in adolescents.

Using technology to unobtrusively observe relationship development

Texting plays an increasingly important role in romantic relationships. Along with the increased use and impact of technology in and on relationships, technology provides new approaches to observe and study relationships. This study demonstrates the potential for using unobtrusive measures of texting obtained through mobile data donation for the study of communication behaviors during relationship development. In particular, we examine how texting behaviors change prior to relationship formation and during a relationship transition. Our analysis of 1+ million text messages that 41 college-age romantic couples sent to each other during their first year of dating demonstrates (a) the utility of digital trace data for studying romantic relationship development, (b) the importance of obtaining and analyzing actual texting behaviors when observing interpersonal communication that is frequent, fast, and variable, and (c) the need for more theoretical specificity in how and why different kinds of communication behaviors change as relationships develop.

Social Withdrawal and Romantic Relationships: A Longitudinal Study in Early Adulthood

Involvement in romantic relationships is a salient developmental task in late adolescence and early adulthood, and deviations from normative romantic development are linked to adverse outcomes. This study investigated to what extent social withdrawal contributed to deviations from normative romantic development, and vice versa, and the interplay between withdrawal and couples’ relationship perceptions. The sample included 1710 young adults (55–61% female) from the Tracking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey cohort and their romantic partners. Data were collected across 4 waves, covering romantic relationships from ages 17 to 29 years. The results showed that higher withdrawal predicted a higher likelihood of romantic non-involvement by adulthood, consistently being single at subsequent waves, and entering one’s first relationship when older. Withdrawal moderately decreased when youth entered their first relationship. Male’s withdrawal in particular affected romantic relationship qualities and dynamics. These results provide new insights into the developmental sequelae of withdrawn young adults’ romantic relationship development.

Patterns of Child Maltreatment and the Development of Conflictual Emerging Adult Romantic Relationships: An Examination of Mechanisms and Gender Moderation.

Individuals who experienced child maltreatment are at heightened risk for involvement in conflictual romantic relationships. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of patterns of child maltreatment on the development of maladaptive romantic relationships in emerging adulthood (EA), as well as to determine whether childhood physical aggression and disinhibition mediate this risk. Utilizing a longitudinal sample of emerging adult participants (N = 398 emerging adults; Mage = 19.67 years) who took part in a summer research camp as children (Mage = 11.27 years), we employed a combination of person-centered and variable-centered methods to test study aims. Significant differences in child behavior and developmental pathways emerged not only between those who experienced maltreatment and those who did not, but also among maltreated individuals with different constellations of maltreatment experiences. Specifically, childhood aggression was a robust mechanism underlying the risk associated with chronic/multi-subtype maltreatment, and the risk associated with neglect only, for involvement in dysfunctional EA romantic relationships. Together, these findings highlight the utility of person-centered methods for conceptualizing maltreatment, identify childhood aggression as a pathway of risk, and the underscore the criticality of prevention and early intervention to interrupt the intergenerational transmission of high conflict and aggression within families.

Superwoman, Racial Identity, and Teen Dating Violence Victimization among Young Black Women.

Young Black women consistently report the highest rates of teen dating violence (TDV) in the United States. They are also navigating a world in which they are facing historical marginalization and intersectional oppression. The Superwoman stereotypic role, in which Black women showcase strength and resist vulnerability, is often adapted in reaction to this normalized existence. Yet little research has examined how these constructs are related. In addition, research suggests that a positive racial identity may function as a psychological buffer against society's negative view of Black Americans and reduce involvement in violence. The current study examined the relationship between endorsement of a Superwoman role and TDV victimization among young Black women. A total of 481 Black women, aged 18-19, completed online survey measures assessing their racial identity beliefs, endorsement of racial stereotypes, and TDV experiences. The results of the path models showed that endorsement of a Superwoman role was associated with increased TDV victimization. Results also showed that racial centrality was inversely associated with TDV; the more the young women felt that being Black was a central part of their identity, the less they reported victimization. Findings suggest a need for attention to stereotype development and racial identity in the development of healthy romantic relationships for Black youth.

“Defining the relationship” in adolescent and young adult romantic relationships

“Defining the relationship” (DTR) conversations are a topic of interest among lay people, yet have been the focus of little empirical research, leaving a gap in the psychological literature on romantic relationship development. This article presents descriptive data from two studies about the characteristics and correlates of DTR talks in adolescents’ and emerging adults’ romantic relationships. In Study 1, DTR talks were found to occur in over half of the young adult participants’ ( N = 341) most recent relationships, often involved discussion about aspects of commitment and sexual decisions, and occurred more often in relationships that were more serious, involved sex, delayed sex, and involved infidelity. Study 2 extended these findings to an online sample of 15- to 17-year-old adolescents ( N = 248) and found similar results. Further, Study 2 showed that DTR talks were associated with more frequent condom and birth control use. Qualitative data from Study 2 indicated that planning for the future and resolving ambiguity were common motivations for DTR talks, though many teens also reported more spontaneous motivations; further, DTR talks often, but not always, resulted in positive changes in the relationship, including increased clarity, intimacy, and commitment. These findings suggest that DTR talks are an important topic for future research and may have implications for young people’s relationship quality and sexual health.

A Decade Review of Sex and Partnering in Adolescence and Young Adulthood

AbstractThe formation and development of romantic relationships continues to be an important area of study among adolescent and young adult populations. Although many adolescents and young adults report having committed romantic relationship experiences, which may or may not include sexual activity, research has grown during the past decade to study a variety of sexual experiences and relationship types. Consistent with identity formation and exploration and the opportunity for experimentation, adolescents and young adults also engage in a variety of casual sexual relationships and experiences. The past decade saw a dramatic growth in the study of casual sex and in particular hooking‐up experiences. Furthermore, scholars have begun to examine more fully young adults' attitudes toward and willingness to engage in consensually nonmonogamous relationships; however, little research has examined actual involvement in consensually nonmonogamous relationships among those in young adulthood. As with previous decade reviews, ongoing attention regarding how adolescent experiences serve to inform relationships and sex during the period of young adulthood is warranted. Directions for future research are identified and discussed.

Assessing Young Adults’ Beliefs Regarding the Importance of Romantic Relationships

In the current study, we provided initial evidence for the factor structure and validity of the Brief Measure of Relationship Importance, a new measure of young adults’ beliefs about the values and costs of being in romantic relationships. Based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, this measure consisted of two subscales: relationship desire (two items; viewing relationships as important and satisfying parts of one’s life) and relationship dismissal (four items; viewing relationships as less desirable or valuable for one’s life). Relationship desire and dismissal scores were associated with participants’ happiness with their romantic experiences, relationship satisfaction, having experienced relationship cycling, marriage intentions, and general interest in being in a romantic relationship. Therefore, we concluded that the Brief Measure of Relationship Importance provides a reliable and valid assessment of young adults’ romantic relationship attitudes. We discuss how our measure can be used in future research on young adults’ romantic relationship development.

You are not as Cute as you Think you are: Emotional Responses to Expectancy Violations in Heterosexual Online Dating Interactions

Dating initiation is a challenging phase of heterosexual romantic relationship development, with men and women often having different expectations and interpretations of communicative cues. With online dating becoming increasingly popular, the challenges of relationship initiation are more apparent and may even lead to negative interpersonal interactions, such as online harassment. The present investigation employed expectancy violations theory to understand and explain perceptions of women’s responses to compliments in an online dating context. We predicted that due to general as well as gender-specific expectations for compliments and responses, when such expectations are violated, conflict and emotional reactions would arise. Using a sample of 413 U.S. undergraduate students, results indicated that women who negatively violate expectations by responding to a compliment using self-praise and agreement were generally evaluated more negatively than women who violated expectations in a positive way by disagreeing with the compliment and women who conformed to expectations by responding with “thank you.” Additionally, results showed that women who positively violated expectations were evaluated more negatively compared to women who conformed to expectations. Implications for expectancy violations theory and power in gendered online interactions are discussed.