Family and Individual Predictors of Late Adolescents' Romantic Relationships

• NCJ Number: 194938
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 197-206
• Author(s): Marla Reese-Weber; Jennifer F. Marchand
• Date Published: 2002
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined parent-adolescent conflict and late adolescents' attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms as predictors of late adolescents' romantic relationships.

Abstract

Based on theoretical perspectives and previous research, several hypotheses were developed. First, researchers expected that mother-adolescent and father-adolescent conflict-resolution strategies would relate differently to female and male adolescents' conflict-resolution behaviors in their romantic relationships. Second, the researchers expected that late adolescents who reported more anxiety over experiencing abandonment or rejection would experience fewer positive and more negative conflict-resolution behaviors in their romantic relationships. Finally, the researchers expected that late adolescents who reported higher levels of depressive symptoms would experience fewer positive and more negative conflict-resolution strategies in their romantic relationships. A total of 256 college students (198 females and 58 males) completed questionnaires that assessed parent-adolescent conflict-resolution behaviors, adolescent-romantic partner conflict-resolution behaviors, and adolescent attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms. Using hierarchical regression analyses, statistical models were tested wherein adolescent-romantic partner conflict-resolution behaviors were regressed on mother-adolescent and father-adolescent conflict-resolution behaviors and adolescents' attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms. All four predictor variables explained significant portions of the variance in adolescent-romantic partner conflict-resolution behaviors; however, different predictors were found for females and males. For females, mother-adolescent and father-adolescent conflict-resolution strategies and adolescent attachment anxiety were significant predictors. In contrast, father-adolescent conflict-resolution behaviors and adolescent depressive symptoms were significant predictors for males. 5 tables and 30 references