Assessing romantic competence among older adolescents

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Adolescent Psychology

Background:

• The Romantic Competence Interview (RCI) was initially developed for early adolescence.
• Older adolescents are increasingly involved in romantic relationships, necessitating adapted assessment tools.
• Understanding romantic competence is crucial for healthy adolescent development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To adapt and extend the concept of romantic competence for older adolescents.
• To examine the reliability and construct validity of a revised RCI in a sample of older adolescent girls.
• To explore the meaning and expression of romantic competence within developmental and agency frameworks.

Main Methods:

• A revised version of the Romantic Competence Interview was administered to 72 Israeli adolescent girls (mean age 17.17).
• Additional measures included relationship quality (romantic partners, parents) and parental marital satisfaction.
• Mothers were interviewed regarding their attitudes toward their daughters' romantic behavior.

Main Results:

• The revised RCI scales demonstrated reliable coding and good construct validity.
• Findings suggest romantic competence can be meaningfully assessed in older adolescents.
• The study provides insights into the expression of romantic competence in this age group.

Conclusions:

• The adapted RCI is a valid and reliable tool for assessing romantic competence in older adolescent girls.
• Romantic competence among older adolescents is influenced by relationships and developmental factors.
• The study contributes to understanding adolescent romantic development through developmental and agency perspectives.