Love Hurts (in More Ways Than One): Specificity of Psychological Symptoms as Predictors and Consequences of Romantic Activity Among Early Adolescent Girls

Starr, Lisa R.; Stroud, Catherine B.; Li, Po Ching Clara; Yoneda, Athena; Hershenberg, Rachel; Miller, Melissa Ramsay

doi:10.1002/jclp.20862

Cited by 38 publications

(38 citation statements)

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“…Understanding the antecedents and consequences of these behaviors may have important ramifications for our understanding of the development of HIV-related risk factors and for the improvement of prevention programs. For example, numerous studies associate romantic and sexual involvement during adolescence with depression and other psychological symptoms (Davila, 2008; Starr et al, 2012). The linkage between psychological symptoms and early romantic and sexual behaviors may have broad consequences for adolescent mental health and well-being, as well as our understanding of HIV risk.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Bidirectional Linkages Between Psychological Symptoms and Sexual Activities Among African American Adolescent Girls in Psychiatric Care

Starr¹,

Donenberg²,

Emerson³

2012

Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology

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Objective The current study examines longitudinal associations between light and heavy sexual experiences and psychiatric symptoms in African-American girls receiving mental health care. Research supports bidirectional associations between adolescent romantic and sexual behaviors and depression and other mental health problems, but this finding has not been examined among African-American youth or in clinical samples. African-American girls in psychiatric treatment suffer disparities in HIV/AIDS vulnerability, and understanding the context of girls’ risk-taking (and how psychological symptoms contribute) may aid prevention efforts. Method 265 African-American girls seeking psychiatric care were assessed for mental health symptoms and light and heavy sexual behaviors. Participants completed a six-month follow-up. Results Baseline light sexual activity predicted increased internalizing and externalizing symptoms and substance use at follow-up. Internalizing and externalizing symptoms predicted increased heavy sexual behaviors over time, including HIV-risk behaviors. Conclusions Results support the association between romantic involvement and depression. Psychological symptoms may play a key role in the emergence of risky sexual behaviors among African-American girls in psychiatric care, and should be considered in prevention program development.

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confidence: 99%

Bidirectional Linkages Between Psychological Symptoms and Sexual Activities Among African American Adolescent Girls in Psychiatric Care

Starr¹,

Donenberg²,

Emerson³

2012

Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology

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“…Both of which may result in substance use by leading to feelings of stress and anxiety that adolescents attempt to cope with through substance use (Knutsche & Stewart, 2009;Seiffge-Krenk, 2011;Spooner, 1999). Additionally, adolescents may find themselves in situations (e.g., parties with older peers) that increase access to substances and can compromise their decision making (Hussong, 2000).…”

Section: On-time Versus Off-time Romantic Activitiesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Comparing the associations between three types of adolescents' romantic involvement and their engagement in substance use

Beckmeyer

2015

Journal of Adolescence

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Using data on 838 middle adolescents, the current study compared the associations between three types of romantic involvement and alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use. Offtime (i.e., serious romantic relationships) but not on-time (i.e., romantic socializing and dating) types of involvement were expected to be associated with increased odds of using each substance. Participating in romantic socializing was unrelated to substance use and dating was only positively associated with alcohol use. Participation in serious romantic relationships, however, was associated with an increased likelihood of having used each substance. Associations did not differ between males and females. Based on these results some but not all forms of romantic involvement may place middle adolescents at risk for substance use. Implications for parents and relationship education are discussed.

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“…First, studies with adolescents generally focused on depressive symptoms (e.g., Grello et al, 2003;Monahan & Lee, 2008). However, depressive symptoms may co-occur with multiple symptoms of other psychological problems (Starr et al, 2012). Thus, we extended our study to other underexplored indicators of CSREs among adolescent casual sex research, such as suicidal ideation, low self-esteem, and consumption of alcohol or drugs.…”

Section: Cihr Author Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consequences of Casual Sex Relationships and Experiences on Adolescents’ Psychological Well-Being: A Prospective Study

Dubé

Lavoie

Blais

et al. 2016

The Journal of Sex Research

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Casual sexual relationships and experiences (CSREs) are still considered to be detrimental to the psychological well-being of youth even though findings remain inconclusive. Most studies have focused on emerging adulthood. Using a prospective design based on a representative sample of high school students in the province of Québec, we measured sexually active adolescents' (N = 2,304) psychological well-being six months after engaging in these relationships while controlling for prior well-being. We analyzed two forms of CSREs, friends with benefits (FWB) and onenight stand (ONS) relationships, as well as levels of sexual intimacy. The results show that CSREs had a small impact (small effect sizes) on subsequent psychological well-being, especially among girls; FWB relationships involving penetrative contact increased girls' psychological distress and both their alcohol and drug consumption. ONSs including sexual touching increased girls' psychological distress and their drug use. None of the CSREs influenced boys' psychological well-being. The findings underscored the importance of using caution when arguing that CSREs are detrimental or harmless to the psychological well-being of adolescents. The results also highlight the importance of taking into account gender and forms of CSREs in prevention and health interventions.Keywords casual sex; psychological well-being; adolescents; substance use; sexual behaviorThe association of casual sexual relationships and experiences (CSREs), defined as sexual contact occurring outside of a romantic or dating relationship, with psychological well-being Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Sophie Dubé, École de psychologie, Université Laval, 2325 rue des Bibliothèques, Pavillon Félix-Antoine-Savard, Quebec (Quebec), Canada, G1V 0A6, phone number : 418-656-2131 CIHR Author Manuscript CIHR Author Manuscript CIHR Author Manuscripthas garnered great interest in recent years (e.g., Fielder & Carey, 2010;Fielder, Walsh, Carey, & Carey, 2013;Grello, Welsh, & Harper, 2006;Owen, Fincham, & Moore, 2011;Owen & Fincham, 2011a;2011b). Despite some evidence supporting concerns about negative outcomes associated with CSREs, findings remain inconsistent. Psychological outcomes have mainly been investigated among college students and rarely among adolescents. However, investigating the impact of CSREs in adolescence is important to clarify whether these relationships are part of normative sexual exploration (Furman & Shaffer, 2003) or are expressions of sexuality related to psychological problems, such as internalizing (e.g., depression) and externalizing problems (e.g., high substance use) (Grello, Welsh, Harper, & Dickson, 2003;Shulman, Walsh, Weisman, & Schelyer, 2009). Because adolescents are generally less sexually experienced than young adults, their sexual choices may have different outcomes than among young adults. Those sexual experiences, especially the earlier ones, play a defining role in sexual trajectories over the lifespan (Russell, van Camp...

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Love Hurts (in More Ways Than One): Specificity of Psychological Symptoms as Predictors and Consequences of Romantic Activity Among Early Adolescent Girls

Cited by 38 publications

References 84 publications

Bidirectional Linkages Between Psychological Symptoms and Sexual Activities Among African American Adolescent Girls in Psychiatric Care

Bidirectional Linkages Between Psychological Symptoms and Sexual Activities Among African American Adolescent Girls in Psychiatric Care

Comparing the associations between three types of adolescents' romantic involvement and their engagement in substance use

Consequences of Casual Sex Relationships and Experiences on Adolescents’ Psychological Well-Being: A Prospective Study

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