3/5/2018 More than Myth: The Developmental Significance of Romantic Relationships During Adolescence - Collins - 2003 - Journal of Research

on Adole…

Log in / Register

Go to old article view

Get access

Journal of Research on Adolescence Explore this journal >

View issue TOC

Volume 13, Issue 1
March 2003
Pages 1–24

More than Myth: The Developmental Significance of Romantic Relationships

During Adolescence
W. Andrew Collins

First published:
13 February 2003 Full publication history

DOI:
10.1111/1532-7795.1301001 View/save citation

Cited by (CrossRef):
323 articles Check for updates Citation tools

Requests for reprints should be sent to W. Andrew Collins, Institute of Child Development, 51 E. River Road,
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0345. E-mail: wcollins@umn.edu

Abstract
Adolescents' romantic relationships have attracted popular interest, but, until recently, little scientific curiosity.
Research has been impeded by erroneous assumptions that adolescent relationships are trivial and
transitory, that they provide little information beyond measures of the influence of parent-child and peer
relationships, and that their impact is primarily associated with problems of behavior and adjustment. This
article proposes that distinguishing five features of romantic relationships (involvement, partner selection,
relationship content, quality, and cognitive and emotional processes) is essential to describing adolescents'
relationships and their developmental significance. These distinctions also help to clarify the role of context,
age-related variations, and individual differences in the impact of romantic experiences. Research is needed
to illuminate questions of how and under what conditions romantic relationships affect individual development
and how romantic and other close relationships jointly influence developmental trajectories during
adolescence.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1532-7795.1301001/full 1/3
3/5/2018 More than Myth: The Developmental Significance of Romantic Relationships During Adolescence - Collins - 2003 - Journal of Research on Adole…

Get access to the full text of this article

Article Information

Related content

Articles related to the one you are viewing

The articles below have been selected for you based on the article you are currently viewing.

The Salience of Adolescent Romantic Experiences for Romantic Relationship

Qualities in Young Adulthood
Stephanie D. Madsen, W. Andrew Collins
9 March 2011

ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS FROM ADOLESCENCE TO YOUNG ADULTHOOD:

Evidence from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health
Ann Meier, Gina Allen
March 2009

Of Sex and Romance: Late Adolescent Relationships and Young Adult Union
Formation
R. Kelly Raley, Sarah Crissey, Chandra Muller
11 November 2007

Adolescents’ Working Models and Styles for Relationships with Parents, Friends,
and Romantic Partners
Wyndol Furman, Valerie A. Simon, Laura Shaffer, Heather A. Bouchey
January 2002

Adolescent romantic relationships: A developmental perspective

Wyndol Furman, Elizabeth A. Wehner
December 1997

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1532-7795.1301001/full 2/3
3/5/2018 More than Myth: The Developmental Significance of Romantic Relationships During Adolescence - Collins - 2003 - Journal of Research on Adole…

Citing Literature

Browse Publications
Browse by Subject
Resources
Help & Support
Cookies & Privacy
Terms of Service
About Us
Wiley Job Network
Advertisers & Agents

Powered by Wiley Online Library Copyright © 1999 - 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1532-7795.1301001/full 3/3