NCJ Number
225644
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 31 Issue: 6 Dated: December 2008 Pages: 771-788
Date Published
December 2008
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examined the similarities and differences between 32 adolescents’ interactions with romantic partners, friends, and mothers.
Abstract
The romantic relationships of the adolescents had distinctive patterns of interactions, but they also were associated with interactions with friends and mothers. Romantic relationships differed from mother-adolescent relationships on three dimensions: off-task behavior, communication skills, and affective responsiveness. Interactions in romantic relationships were less oriented toward accomplishing specific tasks than was the case with adolescent-mother interactions. Mothers were also more skillful communicators than romantic partners and had more positive emotional responsiveness than romantic partners. This may reflect mothers’ greater skill in providing support and mature sensitivity to a child’s needs. Romantic relationships differed from friendships on three dimensions: affective responsiveness, conflict, and "dyadic positivity" (mutually positive give and take). Affective responsiveness was less positive in romantic relationships than in friendships. Romantic interactions also involved more conflict, leading to less mutually positive affirmations than in friendships. Regarding associations among relationships, adolescents’ communication skills and off-task behavior during interactions with romantic partners were associated with communication skills and off-task behavior with friends and mothers. In addition, adolescents’ affective responsiveness and conflict in romantic-partner interactions were associated with such behaviors with mothers. These findings are consistent with the theoretical view that adolescents’ experiences in their relationships with friends and parents may be brought in some measure to their romantic relationships. Adolescents and their romantic partner, a friend, or mother were videotaped participating in a series of six 5-minute interactions designed to assess the attachment, care giving, and affiliative behavior patterns. The Interactional Dimensions Coding System was used to assess qualities of adolescents’ interactions during each task. Coders rated the adolescent and the other person separately. Participants also completed the Network of Relationships Inventory: Behavioral Systems Version, which assessed 12 provisions of close relationships. 3 tables and 49 references