Evaluating the Psychological Concomitants of Other-Sex Crush Experiences During Early Adolescence

Abstract

Very little empirical attention has been paid to other-sex crush experiences during adolescence. As a result, it is not known whether such experiences, which appear to be relatively common, impact psychological adjustment outcomes. This two-wave (3 month interval) longitudinal study of 268 young adolescents (48% girls; M age at Time 1 = 11.84 years) examined the psychological concomitants of other-sex crush experiences (having and being viewed by others as a crush). Anxious-withdrawal and gender were evaluated as moderators. Peer nomination measures at Time 1 assessed both types of crush experiences and mutual friendship involvement, and participants completed self-report measures of loneliness and depressive symptoms at Times 1 and 2. The results from regression analyses revealed significant associations between having an other-sex crush and depressive symptoms at Time 1, after accounting for the effects of mutual friendship. Two interaction effects also revealed that crush status was a risk factor for depressive symptoms at low levels of anxious-withdrawal but a protective factor at high levels. The findings provide the first empirical evidence that other-sex crush experiences are developmentally significant during early adolescence.

Prevalence of Romantic Experiences and Competencies Among 14 to 17 Year Olds: Implications for the Primary Care Setting

“…First, we did not measure all possible types of romantic experiences. For example, experiencing crushes 1 and socializing with possible romantic partners 4 are also developmentally salient romantic experiences that were not captured in the 2015 NSSHB. We also did not distinguish between romantic experiences that were online compared with in-person.…”

“…Adolescence marks the emergence of romantic feelings and cognitions 1 that set the stage for participating in romantic activities such as socializing with romantic partners, going on dates, and developing romantic relationships. 2,3 An expansive literature has demonstrated that romantic experiences are associated with multiple domains of adolescent health and well-being.…”

“…Adolescents, however, engage in other romantic activities such as group dating (ie, going on a date with someone, but as part of a larger group of teens) and dyadic dating (ie, going on a date with only one’s partner), 2,4 which themselves are associated with adolescent health outcomes. 1,4,5 Researchers have also not consistently assessed adolescents’ interest in romantic activities that they have not yet experienced. 2 Knowing what types of activities youth want to participate in at different points during adolescence can help clinicians determine when to provide information about romantic development to adolescents and their families.…”

“…The associations between romantic involvement and adolescent health outcomes appear to depend, in part, on how closely adolescents follow the normative trajectory of romantic development. 17,18 Most adolescents follow a pattern of experiencing crushes and spending time in mixed-sex groups during early adolescence, 1,2 group and limited dyadic dating during middle adolescence, 2,4 and dyadic dating and longer lasting romantic relationships during late adolescence. 2,18 When adolescents follow that normative trajectory of romantic involvement (ie, they progress through romantic development stages and engage in romantic activities at the same time as their peers) they typically experience fewer current 4,5 and later 18 negative health consequences.…”

Being an other‐sex crush during early adolescence in India: Investigating socio‐behavioral and psychological concomitants

“…Crushes are defined as target-specific likings for another person, characterized by one-sided romantic attraction or feelings (Bowker, Spencer, Thomas, & Gyoerkoe, 2012). The current investigation builds on Bowker and colleagues' (Bowker et al, 2012;Bowker & Etkin, 2016) analysis of the developmental significance of other-sex crush experiences among young adolescents in the United States (US). Theory and research findings point to the special…”