Romantic competence, healthy relationship functioning, and well‐being in emerging adults

Abstract

A skills-based model of healthy relationship functioning-romantic competence (RC)-is described. Its association with relationship and individual well-being was examined in three studies of emerging adults using the Romantic Competence Interview for Emerging Adults (RCI-EA), which measures competence as the interplay of three skill domains. Across studies (women [n = 102], women and men [n = 187], romantic couples [n = 89]), RC was associated with greater security, healthier decision making, greater satisfaction, and fewer internalizing symptoms. The RCI-EA skill domains formed a latent factor and were associated with self-reports reflective of RC, supporting the construct's validity. The RC construct may thus provide a theory-driven, overarching way to characterize healthy romantic functioning that can reduce negative outcomes.Research has consistently documented significant mental and physical health problems associated with romantic relationship dysfunction (Davila,

Narratives About Specific Romantic Conflicts: Gender and Associations With Conflict Beliefs and Strategies

“…Although women's greater emphasis on communal goals and relationship maintenance led us to predict they would use more constructive interpretations, we did not find any gender differences in these positive interpretations. Still, in line with developmental work on romantic skill development, some participants recognized and considered the needs and perspective of themselves and their partner when recounting their experiences of conflict events around unmet needs (Davila, Mattanah, et al, ). Nevertheless, constructive interpretations were not common, occurring in about one third of the sample.…”

“…During this period, making meaning of specific conflict experiences may be particularly salient both for emergent cognitive beliefs about the role of conflict for improving or harming relationships and for the development of conflict management strategies (Fincham, Stanley, & Rhoades, ). Theory on the development of romantic relationships suggests that emerging adult couple members have the capacity to think through conflict events in ways that recognize the need to negotiate differences and consider communal goals (Connolly & Goldberg, ; Davila, Mattanah, et al, ). Yet, how emerging adults think through and feel about specific conflicts with current partners is understudied.…”

Romantic competence behavior during problem solving among emerging adult dating couples: Development of an observational coding system

“…It should also be noted that the correlations between the RCB skill domains and the overall competence code were very high, potentially raising concerns about the uniqueness of the skills and coders' ability to code them as such. The three skills are hypothesized to function in interaction with one another, not in isolation (Davila, Mattanah, et al, ). That is, we believe it is their interplay that allows for adaptive behavior.…”

“…This is true not only for married couples but for younger couples as well (Braithwaite, Delevi, & Fincham, ; Kershaw et al, ). Yet, despite what is known, the field has lacked a clear, theory‐driven model for conceptualizing the overarching skills necessary for healthy relationship functioning beginning at an early age (Davila, Mattanah, et al, ). To address this problem, Davila et al () and Davila, Mattanah, et al () put forth the notion of romantic competence (RC), a skills‐based model of adaptive romantic relationship functioning (described further below).…”

Making Sense and Moving On

“…Yet, except for one session on helping students “learn how to break up effectively,” this program neglects post-dissolution adjustment or growth. Another exception is the Romantic Competence program, which includes discussions of postdissolution emotion regulation and learning (Davila et al, 2017). Given that romantic exploration is typical for emerging adults, relationship education may benefit from including material that aids individuals in making sense of a breakup, identifies the positives, and normalizes the process of dissolutions.…”