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

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania A. Barzeva ◽  
Jennifer S. Richards ◽  
Wim H. J. Meeus ◽  
Albertine J. Oldehinkel
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Social Withdrawal ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Relationship Development ◽  
Developmental Task ◽  
Relationship Qualities

AbstractInvolvement 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 These results provide new insights into the developmental sequelae of withdrawn young adults’ romantic relationship development.

scholarly journals Romantic Relationship Churn in Early Adolescence Predicts Hostility, Abuse, and Avoidance in Relationships Into Early Adulthood

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (8) ◽  
pp. 1195-1225
Author(s):  
Emily L. Loeb ◽  
Jessica Kansky ◽  
Rachel K. Narr ◽  
Caroline Fowler ◽  
Joseph P. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Early Adolescence ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Attachment Security ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Early Adolescent ◽  
Developmental Pathway ◽  
Close Friendships

This study examined early adolescent romantic “churning,” defined here as having a large number of boyfriends/girlfriends by age 13, as a problematic marker likely to predict hostility, abuse, and avoidance during conflict in later relationships. A sample of 184 adolescents was followed through age 24 to assess predictions of hostility, abuse, and avoidance during conflict from early romantic churning. Controlling for gender and family income, romantic churning at age 13 predicted relative decreases in peer preference and relative increases in conflict and betrayal in close friendships from ages 13 to 16, as well as higher observable hostility and self- and partner-reported abuse in romantic relationships by age 18 and greater avoidance during conflict with romantic partners by age 24. Findings remained after accounting for attachment security, social competence, and friendship quality in early adolescence, suggesting that early romantic churning may uniquely predict a problematic developmental pathway.

Assessing Young Adults’ Beliefs Regarding the Importance of Romantic Relationships

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-182
Author(s):  
Nicole K. Watkins ◽  
Jonathon J. Beckmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Relationship Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
General Interest ◽  
Confirmatory Factor ◽  
Valid Assessment ◽  
Relationship Importance

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.

Adolescent Romantic Relationship–Oriented Facebook Behaviors: Implications for Self-Esteem

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 661-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Langlais ◽  
Gwendolyn Seidman ◽  
Kyla M. Bruxvoort
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Relationship Development ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Self Disclosure ◽  
Public Displays

Despite the consistent, high use of Facebook among adolescents, few studies have examined how adolescents use Facebook when forming and maintaining romantic relationships. Based on the Internet-enhanced self-disclosure hypothesis, romantic relationship–oriented Facebook behaviors are likely to relate to adolescent self-esteem. The goal of this study is to examine romantic relationship–oriented Facebook behaviors (private exchanges, monitoring, public displays, and oversharing information) between adolescents and their romantic partners or crushes, and then test how these behaviors relate to self-esteem. Data come from an online survey of adolescents from the Midwestern United States who are current Facebook users. Results demonstrated that the most common romantic relationship–oriented Facebook behavior was monitoring. Regression analyses revealed that monitoring predicted lower adolescent self-esteem. Relationship satisfaction moderated the association between self-esteem and both private exchanges and oversharing information. Implications for adolescent romantic relationship development are discussed.

The Perceived Influence of Media and Technology on Adolescent Romantic Relationships

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 651-671 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Mitchell Vaterlaus ◽  
Sarah Tulane ◽  
Brandon D. Porter ◽  
Troy E. Beckert
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Interactive Technology ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Entertainment Media ◽  
Adolescent Romantic Relationships ◽  
Perceived Pressure

Contemporary adolescents rely heavily on technology and media to navigate romantic relationships. In this mixed-methods study, adolescents and young adults ( N = 204) detailed their perceptions of how entertainment media and interactive technology influence adolescent romantic relationships. The majority of adolescents and young adults perceived that entertainment media (95%) and interactive technology (97%) did influence adolescent romantic relationships. Using a qualitative analysis approach, we found six major themes. Although entertainment media provided media role models for expected behavior in romantic relationships, it was also associated with the development of unrealistic relational expectations and perceived pressure to be in a romantic relationship. Participants perceived that interactive technology has changed the way adolescents communicate with romantic partners, become integrated into the entire relationship life cycle, and led to a decline in face-to-face communication in adolescent romantic relationships.

scholarly journals We’re Not That Choosy: Emerging Evidence of a Progression Bias in Romantic Relationships

2021 ◽  
pp. 108886832110258
Author(s):  
Samantha Joel ◽  
Geoff MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Mate Selection ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Test Phase ◽  
Relationship Development ◽  
Cultural Narrative ◽  
Relationship Initiation ◽  
Relationship Decisions

Dating is widely thought of as a test phase for romantic relationships, during which new romantic partners carefully evaluate each other for long-term fit. However, this cultural narrative assumes that people are well equipped to reject poorly suited partners. In this article, we argue that humans are biased toward pro-relationship decisions—decisions that favor the initiation, advancement, and maintenance of romantic relationships. We first review evidence for a progression bias in the context of relationship initiation, investment, and breakup decisions. We next consider possible theoretical underpinnings—both evolutionary and cultural—that may explain why getting into a relationship is often easier than getting out of one, and why being in a less desirable relationship is often preferred over being in no relationship at all. We discuss potential boundary conditions that the phenomenon may have, as well as its implications for existing theoretical models of mate selection and relationship development.

Romantic partners’ weight criticism and Latina/o/x young adults’ relationship instability

2021 ◽  
pp. 026540752110354
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Killoren ◽  
J. Kale Monk ◽  
Avelina Rivero ◽  
Dawson Quinn ◽  
Gabrielle C. Kline
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Relationship Outcomes ◽  
Relationship Instability ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Romantic Relationship Quality

Negative interactions between romantic partners, such as when one partner criticizes another about their weight, are associated with poor relationship outcomes. The purpose of the study was to examine associations between romantic partner weight criticism, romantic relationship quality, gender, and Latinx young adults’ romantic relationship instability. Participants were recruited from a Qualtrics panel and completed 30-minute surveys online. The sample included 475 Latinx young adults (60% women; M age = 24.80 years, SD = 3.22; 66% Mexican) who reported on their experiences of romantic partner weight criticism, positive romantic relationship quality (e.g., intimacy, affection, nurturance), negative romantic relationship quality (e.g., conflict, antagonism), and relationship instability. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the study goals. Overall, weight-related criticism was more strongly associated with romantic relationship instability for men than for women. Further, for men, associations between weight criticism and romantic relationship instability were also particularly strong in the context of low levels of negative romantic relationship quality compared to high levels of negative romantic relationship quality.

Grieving the Loss of Romantic Relationships in Young Adults: An Empirical Study of Disenfranchised Grief

1995 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 269-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rostyslaw W. Robak ◽  
Steven P. Weitzman
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Empirical Study ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Personality Characteristics ◽  
Loss Of Control ◽  
Disenfranchised Grief ◽  
Grieving Process ◽  
Several Variables

Grief following lost romantic relationships during early adulthood has been identified as a form of disenfranchised grief. The present study examined several variables associated with the grieving process. College students (126) between the ages of eighteen and twenty-eight were asked to respond to a questionnaire and to complete the Loss version of the Grief Experience Inventory (GEI). Results of these surveys indicate that such grief is disenfranchised by family members (parents and siblings) but not by friends. Such grief experiences, as measured by the GEI, appear to be very similar to those following loss through death. Gender differences were not found, with the exception of three areas which have been substantially identified in previous research: as part of the grief experience, women reported greater feelings of loss of control, death anxiety, and less denial than did men. What factor(s) would lead young adults to seek counseling following such losses? No personality characteristics were able to predict this. The only variable to predict the seeking of counseling was a greater length of time spent in grief (11.9 months for those who sought counseling vs. 6.4 months for those who did not).

scholarly journals Longitudinal changes in emerging adults’ attachment preferences for their mother, father, friends, and romantic partner

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomo Umemura ◽  
Lenka Lacinová ◽  
Petr Macek ◽  
E. Saskia Kunnen
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Time Points ◽  
The Family ◽  
Latent Difference Score

Only a few studies have longitudinally explored to whom emerging adults prefer to turn to seek closeness, comfort, and security (called “attachment preferences”), and previous studies on attachment preferences in emerging adults have focused only on the beginning of romantic relationships but not on the end of relationships. Czech emerging adults ( M = 21.47; SD = 1.48) completed the questionnaire of attachment preferences at two time points, Wave 1 (Summer 2013) and Wave 2 (Summer 2014). Latent difference score analyses revealed that emerging adults who were not in a romantic relationship in Wave 1 but started a romantic relationship between the two waves ( n = 97) and those who had a romantic partner in both waves ( n = 379) were both more likely to increase their attachment preference for the romantic partner and decrease their preference for friends, whereas those who did not start a relationship ( n = 185) were not. Emerging adults who were in a romantic relationship in Wave 1 but were not in Wave 2 ( n = 69) decreased their preference for the partner and increased their preference for friends. In all the groups, attachment preferences for the mother, for the father, or for the family did not change. Multiple regression analyses further revealed that for those who had a romantic partner in both waves, their length of romantic relationship was associated with changes in attachment preferences for romantic partners and for friends.

scholarly journals Marriage and Mental Health among Young Adults

2012 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy E. Uecker
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Longitudinal Study ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Early Marriage ◽  
National Longitudinal Study ◽  
Mental Health Benefits ◽  
The Life Course

Marriage is widely thought to confer mental health benefits, but little is known about how this apparent benefit may vary across the life course. Early marriage, which is nonnormative, could have no, or even negative, mental health consequences for young adults. Using survey data from waves 1 and 3 of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health ( n = 11,695), I find that married young adults exhibit levels of psychological distress that are similar to those of young adults in any kind of romantic relationship. Married and engaged young adults also report lower frequency of drunkenness than those who are not in a romantic relationship. Married young adults, especially those who first married at ages 22 to 26, report higher life satisfaction than those in other type of romantic relationships,those in no romantic relationship, and those who married prior to age 22. Explanations for these findings are examined, and their implications are discussed.

Bound to interact: The divergent goals and complex interplay of attachment and sex within romantic relationships

2010 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurit E. Birnbaum
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Sexual Partners ◽  
Reciprocal Relationship ◽  
Relationship Development ◽  
Complex Interplay ◽  
Behavioral Systems ◽  
Sexual Systems ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Sexual Mating

Attachment and sexual mating are distinct behavioral systems that serve different evolutionary functions. Although their behavioral manifestations may occur in isolation, romantic partners typically function simultaneously as sexual partners and as attachment figures. In recent years, researchers have focused their attention on the complex interplay between attachment processes and the sexual aspects of romantic love. In this manuscript, I review research that demonstrates the reciprocal relationship between these two systems. I also present new findings concerning whether and how reactions characteristic of the sexual system serve attachment-related goals, primarily in situations that call for distress regulation, and how these reactions are moderated by attachment insecurities. The research conducted to date points to the need for us to understand how the attachment and sexual systems mutually influence each other at different stages of relationship development.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document