The changing importance of romantic relationship involvement to competence from late childhood to late adolescence

Abstract

Although developmental theorists such as Sullivan (1953) and Havighurst (1972) have suggested that the formation of romantic relationships in adolescence is an important developmental task, researchers of the adolescent “problem behavior syndrome” have documented that early sexual intercourse is related to problems with conduct, academics, and chemical use. In this study multiple measures of competence and romantic relationship involvement were obtained from a normative community sample of children and adolescents. These were used in path analyses to document the concurrent and longitudinal predictions of romantic involvement and competence to examine the concurrent and longitudinal linkages of romantic interest and involvement to four other domains of adaptive behavior. Results suggest that although success in romantic relationships has roots in general peer competence, there may be both deviant and prosocial pathways of initial romantic involvement. Early romantic involvement in late childhood and early to middle adolescence may have negative consequences for academic, job, and conduct domains of competence. Later in adolescence, romantic relationship involvement loses its negative significance, perhaps as it becomes a normative developmental task. Results highlight the need for developmental research on the origins and meaning of romantic relationships, one of the most neglected aspects of peer relationships.

Children and Adolescents and Digital Media

“…Sexual relationships in early adolescence are associated with an increased risk of social, academic, and behavioral adverse outcomes. 149,150 Research has shown that parents underestimate the likelihood that their child might engage in online conversation with people they do not know. Therefore, it is critical that parents promote online safety with their children from an early age, monitor children's Internet use, and use tools, such as parental control software, to maintain awareness of their child's online activities.…”

Adolescent Development in Interpersonal Context

“…The link almost certainly is mediated by relative psychosocial immaturity and by a general orientation to unconventionality among early active teenagers (Jessor, Costa, Jessor, & Donovan, 1983). As a group, these adolescents tend to be less achievement oriented, more alienated from their parents, and more likely to exhibit other problem behaviors such as drug or alcohol abuse (e.g., Davies & Windle, 2000;Neeman, Hubbard, & Masten, 1995;B. Thomas & Hsiu, 1993;Zimmer-Gembeck et al, 2001).…”

Early Adolescent Romantic Relationships and Maternal Approval among Inner City Latino Families

“…In addition to their increasing prevalence, experiences in romantic relationships are important because they can have long-term consequences for adolescent's emotional health [11], social and academic development [12], and selfesteem [13,14]. Numerous scientists have argued that the seeds of healthy adult relationships are sewn in adolescent romantic relationships [15][16][17][18].…”