ERIC Number: EJ1151869
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Sep
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0012-1649
EISSN: N/A
Romantic Relationship Development: The Interplay between Age and Relationship Length
Lantagne, Ann; Furman, Wyndol
Developmental Psychology, v53 n9 p1738-1749 Sep 2017
The present study explored how romantic relationship qualities develop with age and relationship length. Eight waves of data on romantic relationships were collected over 10.5 years during adolescence and early adulthood from a community-based sample in a Western U.S. city (100 males, 100 females; M age Wave 1 = 15.83). Measures of support, negative interactions, control, and jealousy were derived from interviews and questionnaire measures. Using multilevel modeling, main effects of age were found for jealousy, and main effects of relationship length were found for each quality. However, main effects were qualified by significant age by length interactions for each and every relationship quality. Short relationships increased in support with age. In comparison, long-term adolescent relationships were notable in that they were both supportive and turbulent, with elevated levels of support, negative interactions, control, and jealousy. With age, long-term relationships continued to have high levels of support, but decreased in negative interactions, control, and jealousy. Present findings highlight how the interplay between age and relationship length is key for understanding the development of romantic relationships.
Descriptors: Interpersonal Relationship, Age Differences, Intimacy, Time, Adolescents, Young Adults, Interaction, Psychological Patterns, Interviews, Questionnaires, Gender Differences, Longitudinal Studies, Individual Characteristics, Hypothesis Testing, Attachment Behavior, Coding, Hierarchical Linear Modeling, Statistical Analysis
American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (DHHS/NIH); Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) (NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Adult Attachment Interview
Grant or Contract Numbers: 050106; 049080