Romantic Relationship Commitment and Its Linkages with Commitment to Parents and Friends during Adolescence

Goede, Irene H. A. De; Branje, Susan; Duin, J. van; VanderValk, Inge E.; Meeus, Wim

doi:10.1111/j.1467-9507.2011.00633.x

Cited by 36 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Low-quality parental bonds provide limited opportunities for youth to practice important interpersonal skills (e.g., listening, empathy, conflict resolution). Longitudinal evidence supports the link between parental relationships and future relationships (e.g., [13,14]); for example, Johnson and Galambos (2014) found a positive association between parent-adolescent relationship quality and romantic relationship quality in young adulthood [15]. Given associations between parent-adolescent relationship quality and both pubertal timing and later romantic relationship quality, we investigate whether parent-adolescent relationship quality mediates any identified link between pubertal timing and later romantic relationships.…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Implications of Pubertal Timing for Romantic Relationship Quality Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Young Adults

Reese

Trinh

Halpern

2017

Journal of Adolescent Health

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Purpose Relative to on-time or late-maturing peers, girls who begin puberty early typically begin romantic and sexual experiences earlier; however, advanced pubertal status does not necessarily coincide with commensurate interpersonal skills necessary for healthy, romantic relationships. Research is limited on the long-term implications of early puberty for relationship quality, and virtually nothing is known about the social implications of early timing for sexual minority females. Methods Using linear regression, we examine longitudinal associations between two measures of girls’ pubertal timing (self-perceived timing and menarcheal age) and romantic relationship quality in young adulthood, stratified by sexual orientation, among 5,568 females in Waves I and IV of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. We also examine whether identified associations are mediated by parent-adolescent relationship quality. Results Among sexual minorities, early self-perceived pubertal timing was associated with lower adult romantic relationship quality compared to on-time maturers (β= −2.32; SE=1.44; p=0.05); this association was mediated by parent-adolescent relationship quality. Among heterosexuals, girls experiencing menarche before age 12 (early maturers) reported lower adult relationship quality compared to on-time maturers (β= −0.43; SE=0.22; p=0.03); parent-adolescent relationship quality did not mediate this association. Conclusions Early maturation is associated with lower romantic relationship quality in young adulthood. However, evidence of the association varies by measure of pubertal timing, and the processes by which pubertal timing is linked to later relationship quality may be different for sexual minority and heterosexual females. Potential explanations and public health implications are discussed.

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confidence: 98%

Implications of Pubertal Timing for Romantic Relationship Quality Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Young Adults

Reese

Trinh

Halpern

2017

Journal of Adolescent Health

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“…Our results call for future studies about the specific contribution of romantic experiences to identity formation among other forms of relational experiences, such as parents and friends, which already have interdependent contributions (De Goede et al, ). As suggested by Beyers and Seiffge‐Krenke (), identity is known to develop in a web of intimate relationships, not only in romance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Empirical studies indicate that adolescents spend time on activities related to romance such as thinking about a current or desired lover, chatting about this topic with peers or interacting with a romantic partner (Furman & Collins, ). To date, most studies have focused on adolescents' current involvement in romantic relationships to explore their characteristics and their contribution to development (e.g., De Goede, Branje, van Duin, VanderValk, & Meeus, ; Kerpelman et al, ). However, longitudinal studies about romantic involvement and the duration of relationships revealed that a significant proportion of adolescents, even in their late teens, are not involved in either steady or casual romantic relationships (Boisvert & Poulin, ; Rauer, Pettit, Lansford, Bates, & Dodge, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity of romantic experiences in late adolescence and their contribution to identity formation

2019

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Romance constitutes a central experience in adolescence, which can take several forms including (a) serious romance with a steady partner, (b) casual and short‐lived dating, and (c) pending experiences of romantic thoughts and attempts. Using a three‐way longitudinal design, the present study examined the gender differences and developmental changes of these romantic experiences, and their cross‐lagged associations with identity processes, throughout one year in late adolescence. 389 students (63% girls) filled out questionnaires about their romantic experiences and identity processes. Girls reported more serious romance than did boys, who reported more casual dating and pending experiences. Serious romance increased over the year for both genders whereas casual dating and pending experiences continued to rise only for boys. The cross‐lagged model highlighted that serious romantic experience positively predicted identity commitments and exploration in depth whereas identity exploration in breadth positively predicted casual dating. This pattern was stable over the three time points and across gender and age groups. Overall, this study invites consideration of more diverse romantic experiences than those associated with tangible involvement. We discuss the contribution of romantic experiences to the identity dynamic.

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“…Similar findings from other studies showed that caring and communication were associated with intimacy and supportiveness. 10,30,31 Much of the literature on partner selection 32–35 and relationship quality 1,10,36,37 focus on older adolescents and adolescent mothers. More research involving early adolescents is needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of early adolescent African-American girls concerning virginity and romantic relationships

Childs¹,

White²,

Hataway³

et al. 2012

NRR

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Background Nationally, African American (AA) girls aged 15 to 19 have the highest incidence of Chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis compared to White and Hispanic girls of the same age group. To address this STI epidemic, it is imperative to target AA girls during early adolescence and before sexual debut. According to the 2011 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, approximately 7% of AA girls initiate sex prior to age 13. The purpose of this descriptive, qualitative study was to explore AA girls’, aged 12 to 14, perceptions about virginity and relationships and how those perceptions influence their decisions to engage in or abstain from sexual activity. Methods A convenience sample of 64 participants was recruited through community-based organizations in Alabama. Data were collected using individual interviews and focus groups. Individual interview focused on (1) values and beliefs about being a virgin, (2) choosing boyfriends, and (3) perceptions about good and bad relationships. Focus groups were held to validate findings from interviews. Verbatim transcripts of audiotapes, observation notes, and demographic data were primary data for analysis. Content analysis was used in analysis and interpretation of qualitative data to formulate meaningful categories, themes, and patterns. The qualitative research software, QSR N-Vivo®, was used to code and sort data into categories. The SPSS statistical software was used to conduct descriptive analyses to describe the study sample. Results Mean age of study sample was 12.9 years. Out of 64participants, 5 reported having engaged in sexual activity. Mean age of sexual debut was 13 years. Common themes that emerged included: respecting myself, ideal boyfriend, characteristics of a romantic relationship. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest STI prevention programs should build upon the values related to virginity to promote delaying sexual activity. Furthermore, findings suggest the need for education about healthy relationships.

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Romantic Relationship Commitment and Its Linkages with Commitment to Parents and Friends during Adolescence

Cited by 36 publications

References 38 publications

Implications of Pubertal Timing for Romantic Relationship Quality Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Young Adults

Implications of Pubertal Timing for Romantic Relationship Quality Among Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Young Adults

Diversity of romantic experiences in late adolescence and their contribution to identity formation

Perceptions of early adolescent African-American girls concerning virginity and romantic relationships

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