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Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure

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Adolescents' explanations for romantic dissolutions: a developmental perspective.

Jennifer Connolly¹, Caroline McIsaac

¹Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3, Canada. connolly@yorku.ca

Journal of Adolescence

|February 24, 2009

Summary

Adolescent romantic break-ups are common, affecting 23% of youth. Most break-ups occur due to relationship "fit failures" and unmet needs, particularly interdependence and intimacy.

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Area of Science:

Developmental Psychology
Adolescent Psychology
Relationship Science

Background:

Romantic relationships are a key part of adolescent development.
Adolescent break-ups are a common experience but remain understudied.
Understanding break-up dynamics is crucial for adolescent well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the prevalence of romantic break-ups in adolescents.
To analyze the reasons behind adolescent relationship dissolutions.
To explore the developmental significance of break-ups in adolescence.

Main Methods:

Surveyed 910 adolescents on romantic break-up occurrence.
Analyzed dissolution explanations from 211 adolescents who recently experienced a break-up.
Utilized a categorical-content approach to analyze break-up reasons.

Main Results:

23% of adolescents reported experiencing a romantic break-up.
Break-ups were more frequent in adolescents with extensive romantic experience.
Common reasons for break-ups included "fit failures" in meeting interdependence and intimacy needs.

Conclusions:

Adolescent break-ups are significant developmental events.
Relationship dissolution often stems from unmet romantic needs.
There is continuity between needs in intact and dissolving adolescent relationships.