Bad Romance: Sex Differences in the Longitudinal Association Between Romantic Relationships and Deviant Behavior

• NCJ Number: 248855
• Journal: Journal of Research on Adolescence Volume: 24 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2014 Pages: 12-26
• Author(s): Kathryn C. Monahan; Julia Dmittrieva; Elizabeth Caufman
• Date Published: March 2014
• Length: 15 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
• Publication Format: Article; Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Report (Study/Research); Report (Grant Sponsored)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The current study investigated how romantic relationships are related to antisocial behavior longitudinally among delinquent males and females (n = 354; ages 14-25).

Abstract

Although being in a relationship or not was unrelated to antisocial behavior, romantic partner characteristics (antisocial behavior and antisocial influence) were found to be associated with greater antisocial behavior. As males aged, they became increasingly resistant to romantic partner characteristics. In contrast, females became increasingly vulnerable to the effects of romantic partner characteristics on antisocial behavior as they aged, particularly when these relationships were relatively shorter. Females in shorter romantic relationships with partners who were antisocial or exerted antisocial influence were at risk of persisting in antisocial behavior. (Publisher abstract modified)