Lying in Bed: An Analysis of Deceptive Affectionate Messages During Sexual Activity in Young Adults’ Romantic Relationships

Abstract Background Social distancing measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 may profoundly impact young people’s relationships. This study compared adolescent and young adults’ romantic relationships and sexual activity before and after social distancing policies were enacted. Methods In June 2020, 351 youth participating in an ongoing intervention study in Fresno County, California completed an online survey about their experiences related to COVID-19. The survey included open and closed-ended questions about their romantic relationships, sexual activity, and online romantic or sexual interactions before and during social distancing restrictions. We used the chi-square test of independence to compare adolescent (ages 13–17) and young adults’ (ages 18–21) responses. Results were also compared to responses in the intervention study’s baseline survey. Results One-third (37%) of youth were dating or in a romantic relationship and 28% spent time in person with a partner early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those dating or in a relationship, 34% physically distanced from their partner due to parental restrictions related to COVID-19. Youth also spent less time in person with their partners during the pandemic than before. Although most youth (69%) were not sexually active before or during the pandemic, 22% had sex during the social distancing period. Young adults were more likely to spend time with their partners and have sex during the restrictions than adolescents. Most youth were not involved in sexting or online dating, before or during the pandemic. Conclusions Adolescents and young adults have continued to engage in sexual and romantic relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic, although many reported physical distancing from their partners. Results suggest that youth continue to need access to sexual health education and services during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Personal and environmental factors contributing to participation in romantic relationships and sexual activity of young adults with cerebral palsy

Disability and Rehabilitation ◽

10.3109/09638288.2011.648002 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 34 (17) ◽

pp. 1481-1487 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Diana J. H. G. Wiegerink ◽

Henk J. Stam ◽

Marjolijn Ketelaar ◽

Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis ◽

Marij E. Roebroeck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Cerebral Palsy ◽

Environmental Factors ◽

Romantic Relationships ◽

Sexual Activity

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It Is Your Decision to Date Interracially: The Influence of Family Approval on the Likelihood of Interracial/Interethnic Dating

Journal of Family Issues ◽

10.1177/0192513x21994130 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0192513X2199413

Author(s):

Byron Miller ◽

Savanah Catalina ◽

Sara Rocks ◽

Kathryn Tillman

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Young Adults ◽

Romantic Relationships ◽

Family Members ◽

Individual Level ◽

Interracial Romance ◽

Using Data ◽

Do So

Although attitudes toward interracial romantic relationships (IRRs) have generally improved over the years, many Americans still disapprove of their family members being in IRRs. Prior studies have examined correlates of individual-level attitudes about interracial romance, but less is known about whether family members’ attitudes are directly associated with young people’s decisions to date interracially. Using data collected from 790 romantically involved college students at two large public four-year universities, we find that young adults who believe their siblings, parents, and grandparents approve of IRRs have greater odds of dating interracially. Compared to Whites, Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to be interracially involved but their decision to do so is much less dependent on the approval of their parents and grandparents. We also find young adults are more likely to date interracially if they have five or more relatives with IRR experience themselves. The findings and their implications are discussed.

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Authors' reply re: Teens and young adults should be started on longacting reversible contraceptives before sexual activity commences

BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology ◽

10.1111/1471-0528.13703 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 122 (13) ◽

pp. 1848-1849 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Neil Pickering ◽

Lynley Anderson ◽

Helen Paterson

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Sexual Activity

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

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.2190/cy1w-v6rl-0l5v-g4q2 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 269-281 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

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).

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Responses to sexual advances and satisfaction in romantic relationships: Is yes good and no bad?

10.31234/osf.io/p9nc8 ◽

2019 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kiersten Dobson ◽

Jenney Zhu ◽

Rhonda Nicole Balzarini ◽

Lorne Campbell

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Relationship Satisfaction ◽

Sexual Activity ◽

Sexual Satisfaction ◽

Daily Diary ◽

Sexual Advance

We examine the relations between accepting and rejecting a partner’s sexual advances with sexual and relationship satisfaction, and assess how long these effects endure. Couples (N =115) completed a 21-day daily diary indicating whether a partner made a sexual advance each day, and if so, whether the advance was accepted or rejected. Having one’s sexual advance accepted was associated with increased sexual and relationship satisfaction that day, and increased sexual satisfaction up to 24 hours later. Having one’s sexual advance rejected was associated with decreased sexual satisfaction that day and up to 48 hours later. Sexual advances made by one’s partner were associated with increased sexual satisfaction that day and for up to 72 hours later, regardless of whether the advance was accepted or rejected. Findings indicate benefits of sexual activity, but also prolonged post-rejection decreases in sexual satisfaction.

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