Do I Really Need Someone in Order To Become an Adult?: Romantic Relationships During Emerging Adulthood in Italy

• NCJ Number: 219782
• Journal: Journal of Adolescent Research Volume: 22 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2007 Pages: 531-549
• Author(s): Margherita Lanz; Seimira Tagliabue
• Date Published: September 2007
• Length: 19 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Ninety-two dating and 84 nondating emerging adults in Italy were compared on when they left the parental home and their future plans; on individual outcomes (depression, sense of coherence, and self-esteem); their perception of parental emotional support; and the influence of parental and romantic relationships on individual outcomes.

Abstract

Findings show that for female emerging adults, the presence of a romantic partner was a key variable for planning the future and perception of the world. The dating female had a precise concept about when to leave the parental home and planned to have a family in the next 5 years. Those emerging adults who did not know when to leave the parental home were predominantly nondating males. The nondating emerging adults were more focused on being economically independent, having a lot of friends, and being socially committed in the next 5 years compared to those who were dating. Dating and nondating emerging adults did not differ on the amount of emotional support they perceived from parents. Parental emotional support had a negative influence on depression, although there was no interaction with the dating condition. Emotional support from parents was a significant predictor for level of self-esteem. For dating emerging adults, both parental and partner emotional support were significant predictors of self-esteem. Parental emotional support was significant for nondating emerging adults' sense of coherence; for dating subjects, parental emotional support was not significant for a sense of coherence if the dating partner's support was considered. These findings confirm the centrality of family relationships for Italian emerging adult; however, having a positive relationship with a significant dating partner adds a powerful factor in determining individual outcomes and future plans. 3 tables, 1 figure, and 41 references