title: Having and being an other-sex crush during early adolescence.
abstract: This study examined other-sex crush experiences (both having and being perceived as an other-sex crush) among 544 young adolescents (mean age=12.74 years). Results indicated that 56% had at least one current other-sex crush, with little overlap between crushes, friends, and boyfriends/girlfriends. Significant associations between other-sex crush scores (scores reflecting the number of crush nominations received) and physical attractiveness, relational aggression, physical aggression, and popularity, as reported by same-sex and other-sex peers, were found. In addition, crush scores were (a) associated with same-sex likeability for boys (but not girls) and (b) uniquely related to peer nominations of popularity and physical attractiveness, as reported by other-sex peers. Neither having nor being perceived as an other-sex crush was uniquely related to loneliness. Taken together, the findings suggest that other-sex crushes are normative experiences during early adolescence that warrant further research attention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA. jcbowker@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Julie C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bowker
authors.forename: Sarah V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: Katelyn K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Gyoerkoe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001504:Beauty; D002648:Child; D003380:Courtship / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012928:Social Desirability