Romantic partner selection and socialization of young adolescents' substance use and behavior problems.
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.
Wargo Aikins
Julie
J
Department of Psychology, University of Connecticut, 406 Babbidge Road, Unit 1020, Storrs, CT 06269, United States. julie.aikins@uconn.edu
Simon
Valerie A
VA
Prinstein
Mitchell J
MJ
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
Pediatrics. 2004 Aug;114(2):492
15286237
Arch Suicide Res. 2008;12(3):208-18
18576202
Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2009 Jul;18(7):407-17
19198921
Child Dev. 2003 Jan-Feb;74(1):205-20
12625446
Am Psychol. 1990 May;45(5):612-30
2350080
Drug Alcohol Depend. 2006 Jan 4;81(1):71-81
16006054
Child Dev. 1998 Feb;69(1):154-63
9499564
Addiction. 2003 May;98 Suppl 1:37-55
12752361
J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2005 Jun;33(3):387-94
15957565
J Adolesc. 2010 Dec;33(6):801-12
20732711
Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 Jun;32(6):975-82
18445102
Subst Use Misuse. 1999 Jul;34(9):1261-80
10419223
Nicotine Tob Res. 2003 Feb;5(1):85-98
12745510
J Adolesc. 2001 Jun;24(3):353-63
11476611
J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2005 Jun;33(3):395-400
15957566
Psychol Rev. 1993 Oct;100(4):674-701
8255953
Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Jun;162(6):1118-24
15930060
J Adolesc Health. 2000 Jan;26(1):27-35
10638715
Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2001 Nov;27(4):599-616
11727879
Child Dev. 2008 Nov-Dec;79(6):1676-92
19037942
Dev Psychol. 2000 Mar;36(2):147-54
10749072
J Adolesc. 2010 Dec;33(6):787-800
20832107
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Dec;51(6):1173-82
3806354
Pediatrics. 2008 Feb;121(2):297-305
18245421
Child Dev. 1986 Aug;57(4):841-51
3757604
J Exp Child Psychol. 2003 Jul;85(3):257-78
12810038
Addiction. 2007 Sep;102(9):1483-92
17610538
Subst Use Misuse. 2003 Dec;38(14):1983-2016
14677779
J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol. 2009 May;38(3):329-41
19437294
Psychol Addict Behav. 2009 Dec;23(4):632-43
20025369
J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2005 Jun;33(3):375-85
15957564
Clin Psychol Rev. 2005 Nov;25(7):841-61
16095785
Psychol Bull. 1993 Jan;113(1):99-128
8426876
Prev Sci. 2002 Dec;3(4):275-83
12465590
J Fam Psychol. 2004 Mar;18(1):82-96
14992612
Dev Psychol. 2008 Jul;44(4):1028-39
18605832
Behav Genet. 2006 Mar;36(2):201-15
16645902
J Pediatr Psychol. 2002 Jan-Feb;27(1):87-96
11726683