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

2021 ◽  
pp. 107755952110228
Author(s):  
Elizabeth D. Handley ◽  
Justin Russotti ◽  
Jennifer M. Warmingham ◽  
Fred A. Rogosch ◽  
Jody Todd Manly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Childhood Aggression ◽  
Test Study ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
Experienced Child ◽  
Gender Moderation ◽  
And Gender

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.

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
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Predictor Variables ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Latent Class Analyses ◽  
Group Variation

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.

Effects of Parenting Styles on Psychological Problems by Self Esteem and Gender Differences

2020 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2095844
Author(s):  
Erica Szkody ◽  
Ellen H. Steele ◽  
Cliff McKinney
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Parenting Style ◽  
Parenting Styles ◽  
Externalizing Problems ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Female Self ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Internalizing And Externalizing

Current research supports the lasting effects of parenting styles on children and adolescents’ self-esteem, and internalizing and externalizing problems. Few studies have examined parenting style, self-esteem, and psychological problems together while considering gender. The current study explored the indirect effect of parenting style though self-esteem on emerging adult psychological problems as moderated by gender among 381 emerging adults. The most notable finding suggested that maternal authoritative parenting was related to higher levels of female self-esteem, which in turn related to lower levels of female psychological problems. Results indicated a relationship between higher levels of self-esteem and lower psychological problems. Findings from the current study contribute to research emphasizing the long-lasting effects of parenting style on emerging adult self-esteem and mental health, particularly among females.

Romantic Relationships and the Transition to Work

2021 ◽  
pp. 107-124
Author(s):  
José F. Domene ◽  
Sarah M. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Transition To Work ◽  
The World ◽  
Relationship Factors

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.

scholarly journals Developmental cascades from child maltreatment to negative friend and romantic interactions in emerging adulthood

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 1649-1659 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth D. Handley ◽  
Justin Russotti ◽  
Fred A. Rogosch ◽  
Dante Cicchetti
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Antisocial Behavior ◽  
Relational Aggression ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
The Life Course ◽  
Antisocial Tendencies

AbstractMaltreatment during childhood is associated with difficult interpersonal relationships throughout the life course. The aim of the current study was to investigate differential pathways from child maltreatment to emerging adult relationship dysfunction. Specifically, we prospectively tested whether child maltreatment initiates a developmental cascade resulting in coercive negative romantic and friend interactions in emerging adulthood via childhood antisocial tendencies and via childhood relational aggression. Utilizing a longitudinal sample of emerging adult participants (N = 392; mean age = 20 years old) who took part in a summer research camp program as children (mean age = 11 years old), results supported pathways via both childhood antisocial behavior and childhood relational aggression. We found specificity within these pathways such that childhood antisocial behavior was a mediator of child maltreatment effects on emerging adult negative romantic interactions, whereas childhood relational aggression was a mediator of child maltreatment effects on emerging adult negative friend interactions. Taken together, results indicate that children exposed to maltreatment face significant interpersonal challenges in emerging adulthood, within both the friend and the romantic domains, and point to distinct childhood pathways to these negative interactions. Our findings are consistent with Dishion's (2016) theoretical framework for understanding the development of coercion in relationships and highlight the criticality of early intervention with maltreating families.

scholarly journals North/south differences among Italian emerging adults regarding criteria deemed important for adulthood and life satisfaction

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Piumatti ◽  
Maria Garro ◽  
Laura Pipitone ◽  
Angela Maria Di Vita ◽  
Emanuela Rabaglietti
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
University Students ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Gender Socialization ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Role Transitions ◽  
The North ◽  
Norm Compliance ◽  
And Gender

The main goal of this study was to compare Northern and Southern Italian emerging adult university students, regarding the importance attributed to criteria for adulthood and the levels of life and education satisfaction. Self-report questionnaires were filled by 475 Northern and Southern Italian University students (Age M = 22.91, 76% females, n = 359). Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that Southern emerging adults were more likely to place importance on family capacities, norm compliance, interdependence and role transitions as criteria for achieving adulthood than Northern emerging adults. Regarding gender differences, females were more likely to believe in the importance of norm compliance than males, while males were more likely to espouse the importance of legal transitions. Finally, emerging adults from the North reported higher levels of life satisfaction than their Southern counterparts. We interpreted these findings in light of socio-economical and gender socialization differences among Northern and Southern Italian emerging adults.

Why Did It End? Breakup Reasons of Youth of Different Gender, Dating Stages, and Ages

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 230-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeriya Bravo ◽  
Jennifer Connolly ◽  
Caroline McIsaac
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Emerging Adulthood ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Age Dating ◽  
Developmental Perspective ◽  
Relevant Theory ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
And Gender

Romantic breakups are common among youths. Yet “why” they occur is not well understood. In adolescence and emerging adulthood, unique characteristics of romantic participation call for investigation of breakups from a developmental perspective. Our principal objective was to map out breakup reasons of adolescents and emerging adults, accounting for relevant theory and research on both age-groups. We considered the role of age, gender, and dating stage (casual vs. serious) on youths’ breakup reasons. Results revealed a five-factor scale with affiliation, intimacy, autonomy, infidelity, and status as unique factors. Consistent with theory and research, we found similarities and differences in how youths of different age, dating stage, and gender endorse these reasons. These findings are consistent with the notion that breakups stem from a failure of romantic relationships to meet youths’ emerging romantic needs, and that there is considerable continuity in these relational dimensions from adolescence into emerging adulthood.

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

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 2078-2097
Author(s):  
Kayla Knopp ◽  
Galena K. Rhoades ◽  
Scott M. Stanley ◽  
Howard J. Markman
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Relationship Development ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Adult Participants ◽  
The Relationship

“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.

Emerging Adult Report of Childhood Maltreatment and Related Facets of Impulsivity

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052199795
Author(s):  
Mary Moussa Rogers ◽  
Erica Szkody ◽  
Cliff McKinney
Keyword(s):  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Childhood Maltreatment ◽  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Adult Child ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Negative Urgency ◽  
Child Gender ◽  
Emotional Maltreatment ◽  
Gender Dyads ◽  
Physical Maltreatment

Childhood maltreatment is related to a host of outcomes, many of which may be partially explained by the transdiagnostic factor of impulsivity. The research linking maltreatment to impulsivity is well supported. However, research differentiating between emotional and physical maltreatment and impulsivity is lacking, particularly with regard to facets of trait impulsivity. Thus, the current study examined the links between childhood emotional and physical maltreatment and current impulsivity traits of positive and negative urgency, lack of perseverance, lack of premeditation, and sensation seeking in emerging adults. Furthermore, effects of maltreatment are known to differ by the gender of the parent and the gender of the child. Thus, differences between parent-emerging adult child gender dyads were also examined. Results suggested both physical and emotional maltreatment were associated with negative urgency across the parent–child gender dyads. Emotional maltreatment and physical maltreatment differed in relation to impulsivity facet across parent and child gender. Results contribute to a knowledge base to use in future exploration of emotional and physical maltreatment outcomes and targets of intervention.

Effects of Receiving Genetic Ancestry Results on Emerging Adults’ Ethnic-Racial Identity Affirmation

2021 ◽  
pp. 216769682110208
Author(s):  
Chelsea D. Williams ◽  
Tricia Smith ◽  
Amy Adkins ◽  
Chloe J. Walker ◽  
Arlenis Santana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Racial Identity ◽  
Emerging Adults ◽  
Genetic Ancestry ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
White Males ◽  
Post Test ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Testing Condition ◽  
And Control

Ethnic-racial identity (ERI) is associated with adaptive outcomes in emerging adulthood, but more research is needed on factors that may inform ERI, such as receiving one’s genetic ancestry results. The current study examined changes in ERI using a pre-test post-test design in which 116 emerging adults 18–25 years were randomly assigned to either receiving their genetic ancestry results before the post-test (the testing condition) or after post-test (the control condition). We also tested whether ethnicity/race and gender moderated these associations. Findings indicated that male students of color (SOC) in the testing condition experienced an increase in ERI affirmation from pre-test to post-test, and male SOC in the control condition experienced a decrease in ERI affirmation from pre-test to post-test. There were no significant differences in ERI affirmation change between students in the testing condition and control condition for female SOC, White males, or White females.

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