title: Non-exclusivity in adolescent girls' romantic relationships.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As adolescents develop intimate relationships skills, they might change romantic partners often. Little is known about this developmental phenomenon.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal was to determine the frequency of non-exclusive romantic relationships in girls, the variables associated with non-exclusive relationships, and the variables associated with having sexual intercourse in a non-exclusive relationship.
  
  
  METHODS
  Girls (12-15 years of age) participated in a longitudinal study (3 y, 7 visits) of romantic relationships.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-two of 160 girls had a non-exclusive relationship, and of these, 23 girls had intercourse in an outside relationship. Younger age, belief that the boyfriend had an outside relationship, and less parental indirect monitoring was associated with the girl having an outside relationship. A longer time being sexually experienced and less direct parental monitoring was associated with having intercourse in the outside relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-exclusivity in adolescence is common but does not always include sexual intercourse. Healthcare providers can address non-exclusivity with adolescents directly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical Branch, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas 77555-0319, USA. mbshort@utmb.edu
authors.forename: Mary B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Succop
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Lawrence R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Stanberry
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Biro
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*