How Do Romantic Relationships Affect Adolescence

Adolescent Romantic Relationships and Their Role on Development

There has been a considerable increase of adolescent romantic relationship research within the past decade through combining the fields of psychology and sociology. Previously, the majority of research focused on the role of relationships amongst parents and peers, disregarding the importance of having romantic relationships during adolescence (Brown, Feiring, & Furman, 1999). A romantic relationship can be defined as a continual interpersonal understanding of which partners equally agree on (Furman & Collins, 2007). Unlike other relationships, a romantic one incorporates sexual behavior between partners (Collins, 2003). The insight specified by Furman and Shaffer (2003) has informed that although many adolescent romantic relationships are momentary, such relationships play a significant role in molding the overall course of adolescent development.

Formation of Romantic Relationships

When making sense of how a romantic relationship may form, one must take in consideration the different theoretical schemas given to date. The behavioral systems approach offered by Furman and Wehner

These emotions are used to either address or avoid separate emotions produced by outside factors of the relationship (Furman & Collins, 2007). Adolescent romantic relationships foster both pleasurable and painful emotions, more so than the emotions aroused from parents, siblings, and friends (Furman & Shaffer, 2003). For example, if a boyfriend accepts his girlfriend for who she is, she will have emotional stability. If a boyfriend consistently tells his girlfriend that she needs to lose weight, she will not feel good enough. In comparison, (Brent et al., 1993) states that adolescent romantic break ups are a prime indicator of major depression in adolescents, following suicidal thoughts and