Relationship Dynamics Associated With Dating Violence Among Adolescents and Young Adults: A Feminist Post-Structural Analysis

We focus on the character of adolescent and young adult relationships, and argue that attention to interpersonal features of intimate partner violence (IPV) is necessary for a comprehensive view of this form of violence. Drawing on ideas from feminist post-structural perspectives, we highlight studies that develop a somewhat non-traditional but nevertheless gendered portrait of relationships as a backdrop for exploring dyadic processes associated with IPV. Findings are based on quantitative and qualitative analyses from a longitudinal study of a large, diverse sample of young women and men interviewed first during adolescence, and five additional times across the transition to adulthood.

The Influence of Demographic, Relational, and Risk Asymmetries on the Frequency of Intimate Partner Violence in Young Adulthood

Social characteristics are prominent factors in mate selection, but they are also important for the quality and functioning of intimate relationships. Researchers have shown that the intimate relationships that are considered the most successful often have high levels of partner similarity. Yet this prior work is limited, as it largely focuses on demographic differences (or asymmetries) between intimate partners. In addition to demographic asymmetries, we explored how differences in relational and risk behaviors were associated with intimate partner violence (IPV). Examining data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study ( n = 828), we found that young adults in relationships with demographic, relational, and risk asymmetries reported greater frequency of violence. Furthermore, we found that asymmetries in risk behavior had the strongest association with IPV. These findings highlighted the importance of considering different types of asymmetries and provided new insight into the functioning of young adult relationships.

Young Adult Use of Sexting

Along with many of the unintended consequences of recent technology, research regarding “sexting” is a little behind the times. For the purposes of this chapter, sexting is defined as the sending or receiving of explicit or sexually suggestive messages, images, or videos via cell phone, email, or social media. While early research approached sexting as dangerous, with implications for bullying, child pornography, and harassment, later research has progressed to paint it as more common and happening among consensual adults. This chapter attempts to explain how sexting is becoming a normalized part of young adult relationships.

Love, Sex, and Satisfaction in On-Again/Off-Again Relationships: Exploring What Might Make These Relationships Alluring

The current study explored positive relational qualities — love, need satisfaction, sexual satisfaction— to better understand what might be alluring to on-again/off-again (cyclical) partners given that they typically report lower relational quality and functioning than non-cyclical partners (i.e., those who have not broken up and renewed). A sample of 558 young adults in current romantic relationships (27.6% in cyclical relationships) reported on Sternberg's (1997) three love components (intimacy, passion, and commitment), relationship need satisfaction (e.g., companionship, emotional involvement), and their sexual satisfaction. Results supported the bulk of research showing cyclical partners report lower relational quality — cyclical partners reported less love, need satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction. A pattern of findings regarding passion and need satisfaction regarding sexual and physical intimacy, however, suggests that cyclical partners might value the physical component of relationships more, and further, that passion might be more strongly related to global satisfaction as compared to non-cyclical partners. Overall, the value of this study is not in what differences were found but in ruling out certain explanations of what perpetuates cycling in young adult relationships. The current findings suggest the reasons individuals return to less satisfying relationships is complex and might require novel theoretical models.