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Social Misfit or Normal Development? Students Who Do Not Date.
Brooke Douglas1, Pamela Orpinas1
1Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, Wright Hall-Health Sciences Campus, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
The Journal of School Health
|September 6, 2019
Summary
Adolescents with low dating frequency showed better social skills and lower depression. This study indicates that not dating is a viable path for healthy adolescent development.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Psychology
Background:
- Prior research identified four adolescent dating trajectories: Low, Increasing, High Middle School, and Frequent.
- Understanding the psychosocial characteristics associated with these trajectories is crucial for adolescent well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in emotional, interpersonal, and adaptive skills among 10th graders based on their dating frequency.
- To challenge the assumption that adolescents with low dating frequency are maladjusted.
Main Methods:
- Compared 594 10th graders across four dating trajectories (Low, Increasing, High Middle School, Frequent).
- Utilized teacher ratings (social skills, leadership, depression) and student self-reports (positive relationships, depression, suicidal ideation).
- Employed chi-square tests and analysis of variance for group comparisons.
Main Results:
- The Low dating group exhibited significantly higher teacher-rated social skills and leadership, and lower depression.
- Student self-reports indicated lower depression in the Low dating group, with no significant differences in positive relationships or suicidal ideation.
- Adolescents in the Low dating group demonstrated comparable or superior adjustment compared to peers in other dating groups.
Conclusions:
- Adolescents with low dating frequency possess strong social skills and low depression, refuting the notion of maladjustment.
- Non-dating is a valid and healthy developmental pathway for adolescents.
- Health promotion interventions should recognize and support non-dating as a component of healthy adolescent development.
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