Parental role modeling also shapes children’s beliefs about relationships. For example, adult children whose mothers have frequent relationship transitions may believe relationships are short and that having frequent relationships is common. parental relationship transitions are not the only source of role modeling in families. Frequent and intense parental conflict during adolescence undermines young adults’ belief in their ability to resolve conflict with romantic partners (i.e., relationship efficacy), which has been shown to result in higher levels of conflict and lower relationship quality (e.g., satisfaction and happiness) in adults’ romantic relationships. Already before puberty, youngsters wonder about the secrets of love: How does love feel like? Who is the right person for me? And will I become beloved? Their dream of love enthuses but it also confuses them. Today’s youngsters’ unreasonable expectations towards love appear as their belief that love is an answer and solution to almost all problems. In addition, Love is regarded as the most essential source of personal coping and enjoyment because young people appear to expect love to provide the ultimate pleasure by healing and making things easier, erasing all obstacles to happiness, including their own flaws. Higher expectations lead to bigger disappointments. Dreams can become a trap if they contain unrealistic expectations. Instead of making life easier, love has the potential to cause harm. How could the young be supported when they try to create permanent intimate relationships?
Author(s) Details:
Kaarina Määttä
Faculty of Education, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland.
Recent Global Research Developments in Developmental Factors in Young Adult Romantic Relationships: Family and Individual Perspectives
The study titled “A Developmental Perspective on Young Adult Romantic Relationships: Examining Family and Individual Factors in Adolescence” sheds light on how adolescent interpersonal skills (such as assertiveness and positive engagement) and family processes (including family climate and parenting practices) influence the development of young adult romantic relationship functioning [1]. Here are the key findings:
Positive Family Climate and Competent Parenting:
- Adolescents who experienced a more positive family climate and competent parenting reported:
- Effective problem-solving skills in their young adult romantic relationships.
- Less violent behavior within these relationships.
Adolescent Assertiveness:
- Assertiveness was consistently positively associated with relationship problem-solving skills.
Positive Engagement with Family:
- Adolescents’ positive engagement with their family was linked to feeling more love in young adult romantic relationships.
Reciprocal Relations:
- Family functioning and adolescent interpersonal skills exhibited reciprocal relations over the adolescent years.
References
Xia, M., Fosco, G.M., Lippold, M.A. et al. A Developmental Perspective on Young Adult Romantic Relationships: Examining Family and Individual Factors in Adolescence. J Youth Adolescence 47, 1499–1516 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0815-8
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