title: Romantic partner selection and socialization of young adolescents' substance use and behavior problems.
abstract: This study examined romantic partner selection and socialization of substance use (cigarettes, alcohol) and behavior problems among a sample of 78 young adolescents (6th-8th graders) over eleven months. Adolescent and romantic partner behaviors were assessed before and after relationships were initiated via school records and self-report. Most selection and socialization effects were apparent for the eighth grade adolescents (at Time 1). Prior to their relationship, eighth graders and romantic partners were alike on alcohol use. In contrast, romantic socialization effects emerged for eighth graders' cigarette use and behavior problems. The nature of the partner socialization effects depended on the combination of adolescents' and partners' pre-relationship behaviors. Eighth graders who dated partners with fewer problems showed the greatest instability in their behavior problems and partner behavior predicted greater decreased in problem behaviors among adolescents with more problems. The implications of these findings are discussed within the broader context of adolescent peer relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06269, United States. julie.aikins@uconn.edu
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wargo Aikins
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Mitchell J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Prinstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D003380:Courtship; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders; D012951:Socialization; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
references.citation: Pediatrics. 2004 Aug;114(2):492
references.pmid: 15286237
references.citation: Arch Suicide Res. 2008;12(3):208-18
references.pmid: 18576202
references.citation: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Jul;18(7):407-17
references.pmid: 19198921
references.citation: Child Dev. 2003 Jan-Feb;74(1):205-20
references.pmid: 12625446
references.citation: Am Psychol. 1990 May;45(5):612-30
references.pmid: 2350080
references.citation: Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006 Jan 4;81(1):71-81
references.pmid: 16006054
references.citation: Child Dev. 1998 Feb;69(1):154-63
references.pmid: 9499564
references.citation: Addiction. 2003 May;98 Suppl 1:37-55
references.pmid: 12752361
references.citation: J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2005 Jun;33(3):387-94
references.pmid: 15957565
references.citation: J Adolesc. 2010 Dec;33(6):801-12
references.pmid: 20732711
references.citation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 Jun;32(6):975-82
references.pmid: 18445102
references.citation: Subst Use Misuse. 1999 Jul;34(9):1261-80
references.pmid: 10419223
references.citation: Nicotine Tob Res. 2003 Feb;5(1):85-98
references.pmid: 12745510
references.citation: J Adolesc. 2001 Jun;24(3):353-63
references.pmid: 11476611
references.citation: J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2005 Jun;33(3):395-400
references.pmid: 15957566
references.citation: Psychol Rev. 1993 Oct;100(4):674-701
references.pmid: 8255953
references.citation: Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;162(6):1118-24
references.pmid: 15930060
references.citation: J Adolesc Health. 2000 Jan;26(1):27-35
references.pmid: 10638715
references.citation: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2001 Nov;27(4):599-616
references.pmid: 11727879
references.citation: Child Dev. 2008 Nov-Dec;79(6):1676-92
references.pmid: 19037942
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2000 Mar;36(2):147-54
references.pmid: 10749072
references.citation: J Adolesc. 2010 Dec;33(6):787-800
references.pmid: 20832107
references.citation: J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Dec;51(6):1173-82
references.pmid: 3806354
references.citation: Pediatrics. 2008 Feb;121(2):297-305
references.pmid: 18245421
references.citation: Child Dev. 1986 Aug;57(4):841-51
references.pmid: 3757604
references.citation: J Exp Child Psychol. 2003 Jul;85(3):257-78
references.pmid: 12810038
references.citation: Addiction. 2007 Sep;102(9):1483-92
references.pmid: 17610538
references.citation: Subst Use Misuse. 2003 Dec;38(14):1983-2016
references.pmid: 14677779
references.citation: J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2009 May;38(3):329-41
references.pmid: 19437294
references.citation: Psychol Addict Behav. 2009 Dec;23(4):632-43
references.pmid: 20025369
references.citation: J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2005 Jun;33(3):375-85
references.pmid: 15957564
references.citation: Clin Psychol Rev. 2005 Nov;25(7):841-61
references.pmid: 16095785
references.citation: Psychol Bull. 1993 Jan;113(1):99-128
references.pmid: 8426876
references.citation: Prev Sci. 2002 Dec;3(4):275-83
references.pmid: 12465590
references.citation: J Fam Psychol. 2004 Mar;18(1):82-96
references.pmid: 14992612
references.citation: Dev Psychol. 2008 Jul;44(4):1028-39
references.pmid: 18605832
references.citation: Behav Genet. 2006 Mar;36(2):201-15
references.pmid: 16645902
references.citation: J Pediatr Psychol. 2002 Jan-Feb;27(1):87-96
references.pmid: 11726683