Transformations in Heterosexual Romantic Relationships across the Transition into Adulthood: “Meet Me at the Bleachers … I Mean the Bar”

Abstract

Transformations in Heterosexual Romantic Relationships Across the Transition Into Adulthood "Meet Me at the Bleachers. .. I Mean the Bar" Wyndol Furman Jessica K. Winkles O ne of the most striking differences between adolescence and early adulthood is the change in romantic relationships. In most Western cultures, romantic relationships first appear in adolescence, but they become increasingly interdependent and committed in

Factors involved in associations between Facebook use and college adjustment: Social competence, perceived usefulness, and use patterns

“…Third, our scale of perceived usefulness of pursuing romantic or sexual relationships had a relatively low alpha. We decided to retain this variable given the importance of romantic and sexual pursuit at this developmental stage (Furman & Winkles, 2012), but the scale can be refined in future research. Finally, while our perceived usefulness variables focused on social aspects of Facebook use, this SNS also has ramifications for academic aspects of college life.…”

Risky sexual behavior of foreign and native-born women in emerging adulthood: The long reach of mother-daughter relationships in adolescence

“…Features of young adulthood such as reduced parental supervision, greater opportunities for experimentation, a broader peer context generally accepting of non-marital sexual activity, and increased sexual activity (Halpern et al, 2006) suggest a disruption in the salutary effects of a strong parent-adolescent relationship. However, Furman and Winkles (2011) concluded that the supportive aspects of relationships with parents remain quite stable from adolescence into the transition to adulthood despite the influence of other factors like peers.…”

“…Attachment theory asserts that people have internal working models based on early experiences with caregivers, especially parents that regulate offspring’s reactions and needs for interpersonal closeness and intimacy with others (Bowlby, 1978). Internal models of close relationships are informed by relations within the family of origin (Furman & Winkles, 2011; Seiffge-Krenke et al, 2010). Adolescents’ attachment to parents guides expectations about romantic relationships over time (Manlove et al, 2012; Steinberg et al, 2006).…”

Quality Counts: Developmental Shifts in Associations Between Romantic Relationship Qualities and Psychosocial Adjustment

“…Furthermore, as adolescents get older, they begin to rank their romantic partners as higher on a hierarchy of support figures (Furman & Buhrmester, 1992). Romantic relationships also become more serious and committed; as adolescents move into young adulthood, they become increasingly likely to have relationships of longer duration and to report being in love (Furman & Winkles, 2011). Overall, the pattern suggests that adolescent romantic relationships may center around affiliation and sexual activity when they are first emerging, but they become increasingly significant and valued as adolescents transition to young adulthood and these experiences become a salient developmental task (Furman & Wehner, 1997).…”