This is a competing continuation application to conduct theoretically-driven research to determine the relations between romantic relationships and psychosocial adjustment and mental health. We have been following a sample of 200 youth who were recruited in the 10th grade and have been studied for the last 10 years with a very high retention rate. By the end of this grant period we will have collected 8 waves of data including observations, interviews and questionnaires. Their parents, friends and romantic partners also completed measures about their relationships and mental health. We have examined the youth when they were adolescents (14-19 yrs. old) and emerging adults (20-25 yrs. old). We propose to extend the work to examine the adult years of 26 to 30 years of age, which is the period when relationships typically become more interdependent, with the majority cohabiting or marrying.
Our aims are: 1) To examine continuity and change in romantic experiences from adolescence and emerging adulthood into and during adulthood when many become involved in more interdependent relationships, such as cohabitation and marriage; 2) To determine the degree to which past and present romantic experiences affect adjustment, mental health and risk in adulthood, and conversely, how adjustment, mental health and risk affect romantic experiences in adulthood; and 3) To determine the degree to which past romantic experiences, current relationship cognitions, ongoing interpersonal processes, the characteristics of the person and the characteristics of the partner are interrelated and affect the future course of the relationship, adjustment and mental health. To meet these aims, we propose to collect three additional waves of interview, observational and multi-agent questionnaire data, and spaced 18 months apart. We also propose to gather diary data from couples to assess key processes of daily interaction such as support, conflict, jealousy and reactivity. The project is designed to identify risk and protective factors and processes. Thus, it will contribute both to basic theories of psychosocial development and to prevention science.

Public Health Relevance

This project examines the association between young adults' relationships and multiple facets of adjustment and mental health, including interpersonal competence, depression and other internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, substance use, sexual behavior, risky sexual behavior and sexual victimization. We examine the long-term consequences of adolescent and emerging adult's romantic experiences and the precursors of mental health adjustment in adulthood.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD049080-18
Application #
8890661
Study Section
Psychosocial Development, Risk and Prevention Study Section (PDRP)
Program Officer
Esposito, Layla E
Project Start
1996-06-01
Project End
2017-07-31
Budget Start
2015-08-01
Budget End
2017-07-31
Support Year
18
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Denver
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
007431760
City
Denver
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80210
Furman, Wyndol; Collibee, Charlene (2018) The Past Is Present: Representations of Parents, Friends, and Romantic Partners Predict Subsequent Romantic Representations. Child Dev 89:188-204
Collibee, Charlene; Furman, Wyndol (2018) A Moderator Model of Alcohol Use and Dating Aggression among Young Adults. J Youth Adolesc 47:534-546
Lantagne, Ann; Furman, Wyndol (2017) Romantic relationship development: The interplay between age and relationship length. Dev Psychol 53:1738-1749
Lantagne, Ann; Furman, Wyndol; Novak, Jamie (2017) ""Stay or Leave"": Predictors of Relationship Dissolution in Emerging Adulthood. Emerg Adulthood 5:241-250
Collibee, Charlene; Furman, Wyndol (2016) Chronic and Acute Relational Risk Factors for Dating Aggression in Adolescence and Young Adulthood. J Youth Adolesc 45:763-76
Golden, Rachel Lynn; Furman, Wyndol; Collibee, Charlene (2016) The risks and rewards of sexual debut. Dev Psychol 52:1913-1925
Collibee, Charlene; Furman, Wyndol (2016) The Relationship Context for Sexual Activity and its Associations with Romantic Cognitions among Emerging Adults. Emerg Adulthood 4:71-81
Novak, Jamie; Furman, Wyndol (2016) Partner Violence During Adolescence and Young Adulthood: Individual and Relationship Level Risk Factors. J Youth Adolesc 45:1849-61
Collibee, Charlene; Furman, Wyndol (2015) Quality Counts: Developmental Shifts in Associations Between Romantic Relationship Qualities and Psychosocial Adjustment. Child Dev 86:1639-52
Collibee, Charlene; Furman, Wyndol (2014) Impact of sexual coercion on romantic experiences of adolescents and young adults. Arch Sex Behav 43:1431-41

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