Do differences matter? A typology of emerging adult romantic relationship

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia N. E. Roberson ◽  
Jerika Christine Norona ◽  
Jessica N. Fish ◽  
Spencer B. Olmstead ◽  
Frank Fincham

Romantic relationships among emerging adults (individuals aged 18–25 years) are typically homogenously classified both theoretically and empirically as “exploratory” and “unstable.” With a sample of college students ( N = 340), we examined within-group variation among romantic relationships in emerging adulthood using latent class analyses. Four predictor variables indicated four types of romantic relationships among emerging adult college students: the committers (38%), the casual daters (23%), the settlers (30%), and the volatile daters (8%). Classes varied according to background variables such as gender and infidelity. Additionally, there was class variation for outcome variables such as breakup status and loneliness. Future research and implications are discussed.

Author(s):  
José F. Domene ◽  
Sarah M. Johnson

In this chapter, the authors address intersections between romantic relationship factors and the transition to work experience. They briefly summarize the nature of romantic relationships during emerging adulthood and then review research conducted around the world, which reveals that these two aspects of a person’s life are closely intertwined during emerging adulthood. They describe the ways romantic relationship development and career development have been found to influence each other and the concerns that many emerging adults have about balancing their goals in these two areas of life. Drawing on this literature, they make several recommendations for practitioners who are assisting emerging adults to make an optimal transition to work in the context of their romantic relationships. Finally, the authors use a case study, drawn from research conducted by the first author, to illustrate how the principles discussed in this review can manifest in the lives of one emerging adult couple.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1338
Author(s):  
Gökçen Aydın ◽  
Nasibe Kandemir Özdinç ◽  
Meral Aksu

The purpose of the present study was to find out the relationship between cognitive distortions and forgiveness in romantic relationships of college students. The sample of the study was 340 college students who have a romantic relationship at a state university in Turkey. The purposeful sampling method was carried out in this correlational study. In order to collect data, three instruments were utilized: Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale (ICDS), Heartland Forgiveness Scale and Demographic Data Form. The scales were put online to survey.metu.edu.tr and students having a romantic relationship were asked to complete the scale. In the present study, canonical correlation was conducted through SPSS 22 statistical package for data analysis in order to assess the relationship between two sets of variables: “Interpersonal Rejection”, “Unrealistic Relationship Expectation” and “Interpersonal Misperception” are the subscales of interpersonal cognitive distortions on one set and “Forgiveness of Self”, “Forgiveness of Others” and “Forgiveness of Situations” are the subscales of forgiveness on the other set. The study was significant because it might fill the gap in the literature and counseling field in terms of finding the relationship between two sets of variables to give a light to possible predictors in future research studying romantic relationships.


2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 2078-2097
Author(s):  
Kayla Knopp ◽  
Galena K. Rhoades ◽  
Scott M. Stanley ◽  
Howard J. Markman

“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.


2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 909-919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loren Abell ◽  
Gayle Brewer

The present study investigated the relationship between Machiavellianism, envy, competition, and schadenfreude in women’s same-sex friendships. Women ( N = 133) completed an online questionnaire measuring Machiavellianism, envy, competition, and three author-generated vignettes measuring expressed schadenfreude in relation to a same-sex friend. Women with higher levels of Machiavellianism expressed greater feelings of pleasure in response to their same-sex friend’s misfortunes in a romantic relationship and their physical appearance but not in relation to academic abilities. Envy predicted feelings of schadenfreude in academic and romantic relationships while competition predicted feelings of schadenfreude in all three scenarios. Future research should explore how characteristics of the target and different forms of envy may influence responses to a friend’s misfortune in individuals with higher levels of Machiavellianism.


Author(s):  
Douglas C. Smith ◽  
Clayton Neighbors ◽  
Jordanna Lembo

This chapter reviews state-of-the-art substance use prevention and treatment models available for college-attending and non-college-attending emerging adults. Findings on the widely researched Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students (BASICS) model are summarized, as well as those for community-level prevention efforts for college students. For non-college attending emerging adults, motivational interviewing, twelve step facilitation treatment, and cognitive-behavioral therapies have the most empirical support. Few studies are available on the use of primary care–based interventions for emerging adults, which are needed if integrated care is to be realized. There is also new evidence suggesting personalized feedback is less effective than other treatments for emerging adults in non-college settings. Finally, the chapter discusses the mixed findings on electronic interventions and provides recommendations for future research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-142 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomo Umemura ◽  
Lenka Lacinová ◽  
Petr Macek ◽  
E. Saskia Kunnen

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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 446-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandria Orel ◽  
Marilyn Campbell ◽  
Kelly Wozencroft ◽  
Eliza Leong ◽  
Melanie Kimpton

Most of the published research on cyberbullying has been conducted with children and adolescents, so little is known about cyberbullying in other populations. This study examined cyberbullying within an emerging adult population in a university setting ( N = 282), and explored what coping strategies these individuals intended to use in response to future cyberbullying incidents. Blocking of the sender of the bullying message was found to be the most frequent intention to cope with cyberbullying among these emerging adults. It was also found that both gender and victimisation status (i.e., whether the emerging adult had, in the preceding twelve months, been a victim of cyberbullying) influenced coping strategy intentions. The implications for practice and future research are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rezzan Gündoğdu ◽  
Yasemin Yavuzer ◽  
Zeynep Karataş

The purpose of this study is to examine irrational beliefs in romantic relationships as the predictor of aggression in emerging adults. The study is a quantitative study done using the relational survey model. The study group is composed of 351 fourth-year students, 201 females and 150 males, who were attending three universities in Central Anatolia during the 2016-2017 academic year. In order to collect the study data, 23-item “KAR-YA Aggression Scale with four sub-dimensions (Physical Aggression, Hostility, Anger, Verbal Aggression) was used. 30-item “Irrational Romantic Relationship Beliefs Inventory” with six dimensions (Over Expectations, Use of Social Time, Mind Reading, Different Thinking, Physical Intimacy, Gender Differences) was used to determine the irrational beliefs in romantic relationships. Also, “Personal Information Form” was used to obtain the participants’ personal and socio-economic information. The data collected was analyzed using the SPSS 18 package program. T-test analysis was conducted to find the correlation and the gender differences between aggression and irrational beliefs in romantic relationships, and multi-hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to determine whether irrational beliefs in romantic relationships predict aggression or not. When the study findings are examined, it is seen that males’ aggression levels and their irrational expectation regarding the social and free time activities are higher. In addition, in explaining emerging adults’ aggression sex is a significant predictor of different thinking and gender differences variables from the IRBI sub-dimensions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-182
Author(s):  
Nicole K. Watkins ◽  
Jonathon J. Beckmeyer

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.


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