Predicting adult relationship quality and satisfaction from teen dating experiences
-
1
Department of Psychological Science, School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Australia
Aim: Romantic relationships are one of the most significant developmental experiences for adolescents. Reported high quality and satisfaction in romantic relationships has been associated with greater life satisfaction, health and wellbeing of partners involved. Previous findings have demonstrated the significant impact of parent and peer relationships in adolescence on the development of adult romantic relationships. However, it is likely that parents and peers are not the only significant relationships that affect adolescents. Whether romantic relationships in adolescence provide a foundation for adult romantic relationships is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of features of dating in adolescence on adult romantic relationships. Method: Participants (N = 517; 92% female) completed an online survey about demographics, features of adolescent dating, and the revised Experiences in Close Relationships in adolescence (ECR-R), and adult Perceived Relationship Quality Components (PRQ-C) questionnaires. Results: Results indicated that choosing partners based on positive characteristics in adolescence and ECR-R scores accounted for a significant 27% of the variability in adult relationship quality and satisfaction (PRQ-C scores) (R2 = .27, adjusted R2 = .26. F (2, 246) = 44.43, p = .000). This represents a large effect size of 0.40. Conclusion: The features of adolescent dating are predictors of adult relationship quality and satisfaction, providing support for the significance of close relationships in adolescence on romantic development. Addressing the promotion of healthy romantic relationships in adolescence as a means of preventing adolescent distress and fostering adult relationship quality could be explored in future research.
Keywords:
developmental psychology,
adolescent dating,
adult romantic relationship,
quality,
Satisfaction
Conference:
15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference , Coffs Harbour, Australia, 4 Oct - 5 Oct, 2018.
Presentation Type:
Research
Topic:
Abstract for 15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference
Citation:
Puth
J,
Kocek
T and
Donnelly
JF
(2019). Predicting adult relationship quality and satisfaction from teen dating experiences.
Front. Psychol.
Conference Abstract:
15th Annual Psychology Honours Research Conference .
doi: 10.3389/conf.fpsyg.2018.74.00038
Copyright:
The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers.
They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters.
The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated.
Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed.
For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions.
Received:
18 Sep 2018;
Published Online:
27 Sep 2019.
*
Correspondence:
Miss. Jennifer Puth, Department of Psychological Science, School of Health and Human Sciences, Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour, Australia, j.puth.10@student.scu.edu.au