Developmental Shifts in the Character of Romantic and Sexual Relationships from Adolescence to Young Adulthood

Abstract

This chapter examines ways in which the qualities and dynamics of respondents' romantic relationships change from adolescence into adulthood and also explores the ways in which gender infl uences the character of romantic experiences during this period. We present fi ndings from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS), a longitudinal study of 1,321 respondents who were interviewed four times, fi rst in adolescence and subsequently as they have navigated the transition to adulthood. A review of other recent TARS fi ndings are included, providing a more comprehensive portrait of the fl uidity and range of romantic and sexual relationship experiences that characterize this phase of the life course. For example, we examine the phenomena of breaking up and getting back together and having sex with ex-boyfriends/girlfriends -dynamics that are quite common, but that highlight some of the diffi culties of establishing the boundaries of what constitutes a dating relationship. In addition, while young adulthood is generally understood as a time when romantic attachments take on greater weight/signifi cance, this period is associated with increased likelihood of casual sex experiences. Thus, we also include a review of fi ndings about the trajectories of casual sex and factors associated with variability in casual sexual experiences. A Comparison of Adolescent and Young Adult Romantic RelationshipsCompared to research on romantic relationships, studies of family processes and peer infl uence have a much longer history within the fi eld of adolescent development. This historical neglect is likely connected to the belief that

Number of Sexual Partners and Relationship Status Are Associated With Unprotected Sex Across Emerging Adulthood

“…Participants were about 24 years old, and 55 % were in a committed exclusive relationship by this time (Table 1; Fig. S1), which fits with a developmental trend toward more serious relationships during later emerging adulthood compared to adolescence (Giordano et al, 2012). Perhaps the greater intimacy and trust between partners (Marston & King, 2006) contributed to having more sex without protection in an established, likely longer, relationship at this later assessment wave.…”

“…The perceived seriousness, level of intimacy, and duration of exclusive relationships typically increases across this time period (Giordano, Manning, Longmore, & Flanigan, 2012), perhaps leading to a greater effect of exclusivity on unprotected sex at later years of emerging adulthood than at earlier ones. Therefore, a secondary aim of this study was to investigate if the effect of relationship status on unprotected sexual behavior differs across the span of emerging adulthood.…”

The Age–IPV Curve: Changes in the Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence During Adolescence and Young Adulthood

“…This suggests that temporal shifts in one arena (crime) will accord with age-graded changes in the other behavioral domain (IPV). However, recent scholarship on risk factors for intimate partner conflict highlights that more serious relationships of longer duration are more likely to engender this type of conflict, and the more general literature on intimate relationships has documented increases in seriousness and relationship duration as individuals mature into adulthood (Giordano et al 2012). This raises the possibility that the patterning of IPV may not follow or take the same form as has been observed in prior research focusing exclusively on delinquency and criminal behavior.…”

Los programas de mediación escolar como herramientas para la promoción de unas relaciones de pareja saludables en la adolescencia//School mediation programs as tools to promote healthy couple relationships in adolescence

“…Por otro lado, en el terreno de las relaciones románticas, los/as jóvenes deben aprender a comunicar sus necesidades a sus parejas, tratar los conflictos o finalizar las relaciones satisfactoriamente, esto es, deben adquirir herramientas que les ayuden a alcanzar sus objetivos a través de la comunicación con el otro/a (Du Plessis, 2006;Giordano, Flanigan, Manning y Longmore, 2012). Estas competencias juegan un papel esencial en la interacción de la pareja, en su bienestar y en el cumplimiento de la metas personales e interpersonales de los miembros (Sánchez, 2012).…”

“…Así, los/as adolescentes capaces de tratar los conflictos de forma constructiva crean un clima positivo en el que prima la unión, el sentido de cercanía (Simon, Kobielski y Martin, 2008), un reconocimiento emocional mutuo, mayor compromiso y unos patrones de conducta que favorecen la estabilidad (Arriaga, 2001). Por otro lado, en el terreno de las relaciones románticas, los/as jóvenes deben aprender a comunicar sus necesidades a sus parejas, tratar los conflictos o finalizar las relaciones satisfactoriamente, esto es, deben adquirir herramientas que les ayuden a alcanzar sus objetivos a través de la comunicación con el otro/a (Du Plessis, 2006;Giordano, Flanigan, Manning y Longmore, 2012). Estas competencias juegan un papel esencial en la interacción de la pareja, en su bienestar y en el cumplimiento de la metas personales e interpersonales de los miembros (Sánchez, 2012).…”