ERIC Number: EJ1132723
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Apr
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0044-118X
EISSN: N/A
African American Girls' Ideal Dating Relationship Now and in the Future
Debnam, Katrina J.; Howard, Donna E.; Garza, Mary A.; Green, Kerry M.
Youth & Society, v49 n3 p271-294 Apr 2017
Adolescence is a particularly important and challenging time for developing long-lasting romantic relationship patterns. However, limited empirical research has explored teen perceptions of ideal partner characteristics during adolescence or their significance to the quality of current and future relationships. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 33 African American high school girls to shed light on the qualities desired in their dating relationships and relational factors that influence teen dating behaviors. Guided by the Social Ecological Framework, interviews were transcribed verbatim and entered into ATLAS.ti, for coding and analysis. Girls discussed the important influence of parents in choosing a partner and provided positive depictions of friendship and marriage with a suitable partner. More research is needed to understand how and why adolescents desire particular characteristics, how socialization shapes teen perceptions, and how these preferences may be related to current and future adolescent dating choices, including violence perpetration and victimization.
Descriptors: Females, Dating (Social), Violence, Victims, Intimacy, Adolescents, Semi Structured Interviews, Computer Software, Socialization, Preferences, Friendship, Marriage, Parent Influence, Adolescent Attitudes, High School Students, African American Students, Futures (of Society), Statistical Analysis
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: R03HD057984