Quality Counts: Developmental Shifts in Associations Between Romantic Relationship Qualities and Psychosocial Adjustment

Publication Date

8-18-2015

Document Type

Article

Organizational Units

College of Arts Humanities and Social Sciences, Psychology

Keywords

Romantic relationships, Developmental task theory, Adjustment, Dating satisfaction

Abstract

The present study assessed a developmental task theory of romantic relationships by examining associations between romantic relationship qualities and adjustment across 9 years using a community‐based sample of 100 male and 100 female participants (Mage Wave 1 = 15.83) in a Western U.S. city. Using multilevel modeling, the study examined the moderating effect of age on links between romantic relationship qualities and adjustment. Consistent with developmental task theory, high romantic quality was more negatively associated with internalizing symptoms and dating satisfaction during young adulthood than adolescence. Romantic relationship qualities were also associated with externalizing symptoms and substance use, but the degree of association was consistent across ages. The findings underscore the significance of romantic relationship qualities across development.

Copyright Date

8-18-2015

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

All Rights Reserved
All Rights Reserved.

Rights Holder

The Authors

Provenance

Received from author

Language

English (eng)

Extent

14 pgs

Publication Statement

Copyright held by authors. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.

Publication Title

Child Development

Volume

86

Issue

5

First Page

1639

Last Page

1652

ISSN

1467-8624

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