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Published on: July 10, 2017
Adolescent dating experiences described by Latino college students
1Department of Psychology and Institute for Ethnic Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308, USA. mraffaelli1@unl.edu
Abstract:
Latino college students (M age=21.4 years) completed self-report surveys assessing adolescent dating experiences. Compared to young men (n=69), young women (n=97) had more limitations placed on them by parents as adolescents and began dating later. No gender difference in timing of the first serious relationship emerged. More young women had their first relationship with a Latino, and having a Latino boyfriend was associated with older partner age. In multivariate analyses, parental level of education was a stronger correlate of early dating experiences than generational status, and stronger findings emerged for young women than young men. The findings highlight the salience of gender as an organizer of early dating experiences among Latino adolescents.
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