title: Teacher-student interactions and attachment states of mind as predictors of early romantic involvement and risky sexual behaviors.
abstract: Adolescents' capacities to negotiate sexual behavior in romantic relationships have important implications for their reproductive and health outcomes. This study examined adolescents' interactions with teachers and attachment states of mind as predictors of their romantic involvement and risky sexual behavior in an economically disadvantaged sample. Negative interactions with teachers predicted increased sexual risk-taking behaviors and females' early romantic involvement. Preoccupied states of mind increased risk for early romantic involvement and the likelihood that females would engage in risky sexual behavior. The findings demonstrate how adolescents' school experiences contribute to adaptation in romantic relationships in mid to late adolescence above and beyond representations of parent-child attachment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark, USA. rkobak@psych.udel.edu
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kobak
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Herres
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaskins
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Laurenceau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D005178:Faculty; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008149:Love; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D002666:Psychology, Child; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012737:Sex Factors; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors