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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Findings highlight parental separation as an important moderator of risk to children of mothers who have a history of problem drinking, with interactive effects observed consistently across racial group. To identify underlying processes, additional research is needed with more detailed characterization of separated families where mother only has a history of alcohol problems.

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Using data from 313 single emerging adults living in the United States, we explored initiation-efficacy (i.e., perceived abilities related to initiating romantic relationships) and if it was associated with well-being (life satisfaction, happiness with romantic experiences, and loneliness). Most participants indicated that it is not easy to ask someone out or tell someone they are interested in them and talking with someone they have feelings for is awkward. Initiation-efficacy was associated with well-being. Specifically, reporting that it is easy to ask someone out on a date was associated with greater life satisfaction and happiness with romantic experiences, but less loneliness. Further, emerging adults were lonelier when talking to someone they have feelings for was awkward. Finally, neither relationship desire or dismissal moderated associations between initiation-efficacy and well-being. However, relationship dismissal was associated with greater life satisfaction and happiness with romantic experiences and relationship desire was associated with more loneliness.

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