Romantic relationships in adolescents with internalizing and externalizing problems
Romantic relationships in adolescents with internalizing and externalizing problems
Main Article Content
Abstract
The main focus of this study was to examine the influence that individual’ psychological problems have on involvement and quality of adolescents’ romantic relationships. A sample of 621 adolescents (308 males and 313 females) aged from 14 to 17 years was recruited for this study. Psychological problems were assessed by means of Youth Self-Report that assessed externalizing (aggressive, disruptive, hyperactive, antisocial, and delinquent behaviours) or internalizing (depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal) problems. Differently from previous studies, it has been differentiated “pure” externalizing or internalizing problems from comorbidity forms of psychological problems. Total number of partners and the mean of relationships’ duration were used to explore the quantitative aspects of romantic relationships. Network of Relationships Inventory and a Relationship Satisfaction Scale were employed to measure the positive (companionship, intimacy, reliable alliance and Support) and negative (Conflict, Antagonism, and Reliable Power) qualities. Results showed that both adolescents with pure externalizing or with comorbidity problems reported a higher total number of partners than adolescents with pure internalizing problems did. Furthermore, they had romantic relationships characterized by more negative qualitative features.
References
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Achenbach, T.M., Dumenci, L. & Rescorla, L. (2002). Ten-year comparisons of problems and competencies for national samples of youth: Self, parent and teacher reports. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 10, 194-203.
Achenbach, T.M. & McConaughy, S.H. (1997). Empirically based assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology: Practical implications (2nd ad.). Thousand Oaks CA US: Sage Publications.
Achenbach, T.M. & Rescorla, L.A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA school age forms and profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth & Families.
Barber, B. & Eccles, J. (2003). The joy of romance: Healthy adolescent relationships as an educational agenda. In P. Florsheim (Ed.), Adolescent romantic relations and sexual behavior: theory, research, and practical implications (pp. 355-370). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Beyers, J. & Loeber, R. (2003). Untangling Developmental Relations Between Depressed Mood and Delinquency in Male Adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31, 247266.
Braithwaite, S.R., Delevi, R. & Fincham, F.D. (2010). Romantic relationships and the physical and mental health of college students. Personal Relationships, 17, 1-12.
Caspi, A. (2000). The child is father of the man: personality continuities from childhood to adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(1), 158-172.
Collins, W.A. (1997). Relationships and development during adolescence: Interpersonal adaptation to individual change. Personal Relationships, 4, 1-14.
Collins, W.A. (2003). More than myth: The developmental significance of romantic relationships during adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13(1), 1-24.
Compian, L., Gowen, L.K. & Hayward, C. (2004). Peripubertal girls' romantic and platonic involvement with boys: Associations with body image and depression symptoms. Journalof Research on Adolescence, 14, 23-47.
Crick, N.R. & Zahn-Waxler, C. (2003). The development of psychopathology in females and males: Current progress and future challenges. Development and Psychopathology, 15, 719-742.
Daley, S.E. & Hammen, C. (2002). Depressive symptoms and close relationships during the transition to adulthood: Perspectives from dysphoric women, their best friends, and their romantic partners. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 129-141.
Darcy, K., Davila, J. & Beck, J.G. (2005). Is social anxiety associated with both interpersonal avoidance and interpersonal dependence? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 29, 171-186.
Darling, N., Dowdy, B.B., Van Horn, M.L & Caldwell, L.L. (1999). Mixed-sex settings and the perception of competence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28, 461-480.
Davila, J. (2008). Depressive symptoms and adolescent romance: theory, research, and implications. Child Development Perspective, 2(1), 26-31.
Davila, J. & Beck, J.G. (2002). Is social anxiety associated with impairment in close relationships? A preliminary investigation. Behavior Therapy, 33, 427-446.
Davila, J., Steinberg, S.J., Kachadourian, L., Cobb, R. & Fincham, F. (2004). Romantic
involvement and depressive symptoms in early and late adolescence: The role of preoccupied relational style. Personal Relationships, 11, 161-178.
Feiring, C., Deblinger, E., Hoch-Espada, A. & Haworth, T. (2002). Romantic relationship aggression and attitudes in high school students: The role of gender, grade, and attachment and emotional styles. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 31, 373-385.
Furman, W. (1996). The measurement of friendship perceptions: Conceptual and methodological issues. In W.M. Bukowski, A.F. Newcomb & W.W. Hartup (Eds.), The company they keep: Friendship in childhood and adolescence (pp. 41-65). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Furman, W. & Collins, W.A. (2007). Adolescent romantic relationships and experiences. In K.H. Rubin, W. Bukowski & B. Laursen (Eds.), Handbook of peer interaction, relationships, and groups. New York: Guildford Press.
Furman, W., Ho, M.H. & Low, S.M. (2007). The rocky road of adolescent romantic experience: Dating and adjustment. In R.C.M.E. Engles, M. Kerr & H. Stattin (Eds.), Friends, lovers, and groups: Key relationships in adolescence (pp. 61-80). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Furman, W. & Schaffer, L. (2003). The role of romantic relationships in adolescent development. In Florsheim, P. (Ed.), Adolescent romantic relations and sexual behavior: theory, research, and practical implications. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Garnefski, N., Kraij, V. & van Etten, M. (2005). Specificity of relations between adolescents’ cognitive emotion regulation strategies and Internalizing and Externalizing psychopathology. Journal of Adolescence, 28, 619-631.
Giordano, P.C., Manning, W.D. & Longmore, M.A. (2006). Adolescent romantic relationships: An emerging portrait of their nature and developmental significance. In A.C. Crouter and A. Booth (Eds.), Romance and Sex in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Risks and Opportunities (pp. 127-150). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Guarnieri, S. & Tani, F. (2011). Uno strumento per lo studio delle reti sociali: Adattamento italiano del Network of Relationships Inventory. [A measure for the study of social networks: The Italian version of the Network of Relationships Inventory]. Italian Journal of Developmental Psychology, 98, 7-23.
Guarnier S. & Tani F. (2011), Reti sociali e soddisfazione di vita durante l’emerging adulthood [Social network and life satisfaction in emerging adulthood]. Journal of Developmental Psychology, 99, 34-52.
Hammen, C., Brennan, P., Keenan-Miller, D., & Herr, N. (2008). Early onset recurrent subtype of adolescent depression: Clinical and psychosocial correlates. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, 433–440.
Heller, D., Watson, D. & Ilies R. (2006). The dynamic process of life satisfaction. Journal of Personality, 74(5), 1421-1450.
Henggeler, S. & Sheidow, A. (2003). Conduct disorder and delinquency. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 29, 505-522.
Joyner, K. & Udry, R. (2000). You don’t bring me anything but down: Adolescent romance and depression. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 41, 369-391.
Krueger, R.F. & Markon, K.E. (2006). Reinterpreting comorbidity: A model-based approach to understanding and classifying psychopathology. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2, 111-133.
La Greca, A.M. & Harrison, H.M. (2005). Adolescent peer relations, friendships, and romantic relationships: Do they predict social anxiety and depression? Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34, 49-61.
Linder, J.R., Crick, N.R. & Collins, W.A. (2002). Relational aggression and victimization in
young adults’ romantic relationship: Association with perception of parent, peer, and romantic relationship quality. Social Development, 11(1), 69-86.
Liu, J. (2004). Childhood externalizing behavior: Theory and implications. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 17, 93-103.
Moffitt, T., Caspi, A., Rutter, M. & Silva, P.A. (2001). Sex, antisocial behavior, and mating: Mate selection and early childbearing In T. Moffitt, A. Caspi, M. Rutter & P.A. Silva (Eds.), Sex differences in antisocial behavior: Conduct disorder, delinquency, and violence in the Dunedin longitudinal study (pp. 184-197). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Oland, A. & Shaw, D. (2005). Pure versus co-occurring externalizing and internalizing symptoms in children: The potential role of socio-developmental milestones. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 8, 247-270.
Ostrov J.M. & Collins A. (2007). Social dominance in romantic relationship: A prospective longitudinal study of non-verbal processes. Social Development, 16(3), 580-595.
Purdie, V. & Downey, G. (2000). Rejection sensitivity and adolescent girls' vulnerability to relationship-centered difficulties. Child Maltreatment, 5, 338-349.
Reynolds, W.M. (1992). Depression in children and adolescents. In W.M. Reynolds (Ed.), Internalizing disorders in children and adolescents (pp. 149-253). New York: Wiley.
Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2003). Testing theories of romantic development from adolescence to young adulthood: Evidence of a developmental sequence. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27, 519-531.
Smorti, M., Benvenuti, P. & Pazzagli, A. (2010). Risk and protective factors in adolescents’ alcohol and drug use [Fattori di rischio e di protezione nel consumo di alcolici e di sostanze degli adolescenti], Psicologia Clinica dello Sviluppo, 1, 55-78.
Smorti, M., Vanni, D., Benvenuti, P. & Pazzagli, A. (2009). Depressive features, coping strategies and family in adolescence [Caratteristiche depressive, strategie di coping e ambiente familiare in adolescenza], Psicologia della Salute, 3, 37- 53.
Steinberg, S.J. & Davila, J. (2008). Romantic functioning and depressive symptoms among early adolescent girls: The moderating role of parental emotional availability. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 37, 350-362.
Tani, F., Bonechi A., Ingoglia, S. & Smorti, M. (submitted), The Role of Communication Strategies on Psychological Abuse in Romantic Relationships during College, Journal of Social Psychology.
Tani, F., Guarnieri, S., Perini, E. & Maggino, F. (2009). Psychosocial disorder and quality of friendship in adolescence [Amicizia e disagio psicologico in adolescenza]. Psicologia Clinica dello Sviluppo, 2, 307-326.
Tani F. & Steca P. (2007), Soddisfazione di coppia e benessere della persona: determinanti
personali e relazionali [Couple satisfaction and individuals’ well-being: personal and relational determinants] . Età evolutiva, 86, 67-76.
van Dulmen M.H.M., Goncy E.A., Haydon K.C. & Collins W.A. (2008). Distinctiveness of adolescent and emerging adult romantic relationship features in predicting externalizing behavior problems. Journal of Youth Adolescence, 37, 336-345.
Vujeva, H.M. & Furman, W. (2011). Depressive Symptoms and Romantic Relationship Qualities from Adolescence through Emerging Adulthood: A Longitudinal Examination of Influences, Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 40(1), 123-135.
Williams, S., Connolly, J. & Segal, Z.V. (2001). Intimacy in relationships and cognitive vulnerability to depression in adolescent girls. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 25, 477-496.
Wittchen, H.U., Fuetsch, M., Sonntag, H., Mueller, N. & Liebowitz, M. (2000). Disability and quality of life in pure and comorbid social phobia: Findings from a controlled study. European Psychiatry, 15, 46-58.
Youngstrom, E., Findling, R. & Calabrese, J. (2003). Who Are the Comorbid Adolescents? Agreement between Psychiatric Diagnosis, Youth, Parent, and Teacher Report. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31(3), 231-2.
Achenbach, T.M., Dumenci, L. & Rescorla, L. (2002). Ten-year comparisons of problems and competencies for national samples of youth: Self, parent and teacher reports. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 10, 194-203.
Achenbach, T.M. & McConaughy, S.H. (1997). Empirically based assessment of child and adolescent psychopathology: Practical implications (2nd ad.). Thousand Oaks CA US: Sage Publications.
Achenbach, T.M. & Rescorla, L.A. (2001). Manual for the ASEBA school age forms and profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Center for Children, Youth & Families.
Barber, B. & Eccles, J. (2003). The joy of romance: Healthy adolescent relationships as an educational agenda. In P. Florsheim (Ed.), Adolescent romantic relations and sexual behavior: theory, research, and practical implications (pp. 355-370). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Beyers, J. & Loeber, R. (2003). Untangling Developmental Relations Between Depressed Mood and Delinquency in Male Adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31, 247266.
Braithwaite, S.R., Delevi, R. & Fincham, F.D. (2010). Romantic relationships and the physical and mental health of college students. Personal Relationships, 17, 1-12.
Caspi, A. (2000). The child is father of the man: personality continuities from childhood to adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(1), 158-172.
Collins, W.A. (1997). Relationships and development during adolescence: Interpersonal adaptation to individual change. Personal Relationships, 4, 1-14.
Collins, W.A. (2003). More than myth: The developmental significance of romantic relationships during adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 13(1), 1-24.
Compian, L., Gowen, L.K. & Hayward, C. (2004). Peripubertal girls' romantic and platonic involvement with boys: Associations with body image and depression symptoms. Journalof Research on Adolescence, 14, 23-47.
Crick, N.R. & Zahn-Waxler, C. (2003). The development of psychopathology in females and males: Current progress and future challenges. Development and Psychopathology, 15, 719-742.
Daley, S.E. & Hammen, C. (2002). Depressive symptoms and close relationships during the transition to adulthood: Perspectives from dysphoric women, their best friends, and their romantic partners. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 70, 129-141.
Darcy, K., Davila, J. & Beck, J.G. (2005). Is social anxiety associated with both interpersonal avoidance and interpersonal dependence? Cognitive Therapy and Research, 29, 171-186.
Darling, N., Dowdy, B.B., Van Horn, M.L & Caldwell, L.L. (1999). Mixed-sex settings and the perception of competence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28, 461-480.
Davila, J. (2008). Depressive symptoms and adolescent romance: theory, research, and implications. Child Development Perspective, 2(1), 26-31.
Davila, J. & Beck, J.G. (2002). Is social anxiety associated with impairment in close relationships? A preliminary investigation. Behavior Therapy, 33, 427-446.
Davila, J., Steinberg, S.J., Kachadourian, L., Cobb, R. & Fincham, F. (2004). Romantic
involvement and depressive symptoms in early and late adolescence: The role of preoccupied relational style. Personal Relationships, 11, 161-178.
Feiring, C., Deblinger, E., Hoch-Espada, A. & Haworth, T. (2002). Romantic relationship aggression and attitudes in high school students: The role of gender, grade, and attachment and emotional styles. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 31, 373-385.
Furman, W. (1996). The measurement of friendship perceptions: Conceptual and methodological issues. In W.M. Bukowski, A.F. Newcomb & W.W. Hartup (Eds.), The company they keep: Friendship in childhood and adolescence (pp. 41-65). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Furman, W. & Collins, W.A. (2007). Adolescent romantic relationships and experiences. In K.H. Rubin, W. Bukowski & B. Laursen (Eds.), Handbook of peer interaction, relationships, and groups. New York: Guildford Press.
Furman, W., Ho, M.H. & Low, S.M. (2007). The rocky road of adolescent romantic experience: Dating and adjustment. In R.C.M.E. Engles, M. Kerr & H. Stattin (Eds.), Friends, lovers, and groups: Key relationships in adolescence (pp. 61-80). New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Furman, W. & Schaffer, L. (2003). The role of romantic relationships in adolescent development. In Florsheim, P. (Ed.), Adolescent romantic relations and sexual behavior: theory, research, and practical implications. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Garnefski, N., Kraij, V. & van Etten, M. (2005). Specificity of relations between adolescents’ cognitive emotion regulation strategies and Internalizing and Externalizing psychopathology. Journal of Adolescence, 28, 619-631.
Giordano, P.C., Manning, W.D. & Longmore, M.A. (2006). Adolescent romantic relationships: An emerging portrait of their nature and developmental significance. In A.C. Crouter and A. Booth (Eds.), Romance and Sex in Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: Risks and Opportunities (pp. 127-150). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Guarnieri, S. & Tani, F. (2011). Uno strumento per lo studio delle reti sociali: Adattamento italiano del Network of Relationships Inventory. [A measure for the study of social networks: The Italian version of the Network of Relationships Inventory]. Italian Journal of Developmental Psychology, 98, 7-23.
Guarnier S. & Tani F. (2011), Reti sociali e soddisfazione di vita durante l’emerging adulthood [Social network and life satisfaction in emerging adulthood]. Journal of Developmental Psychology, 99, 34-52.
Hammen, C., Brennan, P., Keenan-Miller, D., & Herr, N. (2008). Early onset recurrent subtype of adolescent depression: Clinical and psychosocial correlates. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 49, 433–440.
Heller, D., Watson, D. & Ilies R. (2006). The dynamic process of life satisfaction. Journal of Personality, 74(5), 1421-1450.
Henggeler, S. & Sheidow, A. (2003). Conduct disorder and delinquency. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy, 29, 505-522.
Joyner, K. & Udry, R. (2000). You don’t bring me anything but down: Adolescent romance and depression. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 41, 369-391.
Krueger, R.F. & Markon, K.E. (2006). Reinterpreting comorbidity: A model-based approach to understanding and classifying psychopathology. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 2, 111-133.
La Greca, A.M. & Harrison, H.M. (2005). Adolescent peer relations, friendships, and romantic relationships: Do they predict social anxiety and depression? Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34, 49-61.
Linder, J.R., Crick, N.R. & Collins, W.A. (2002). Relational aggression and victimization in
young adults’ romantic relationship: Association with perception of parent, peer, and romantic relationship quality. Social Development, 11(1), 69-86.
Liu, J. (2004). Childhood externalizing behavior: Theory and implications. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 17, 93-103.
Moffitt, T., Caspi, A., Rutter, M. & Silva, P.A. (2001). Sex, antisocial behavior, and mating: Mate selection and early childbearing In T. Moffitt, A. Caspi, M. Rutter & P.A. Silva (Eds.), Sex differences in antisocial behavior: Conduct disorder, delinquency, and violence in the Dunedin longitudinal study (pp. 184-197). New York: Cambridge University Press.
Oland, A. & Shaw, D. (2005). Pure versus co-occurring externalizing and internalizing symptoms in children: The potential role of socio-developmental milestones. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 8, 247-270.
Ostrov J.M. & Collins A. (2007). Social dominance in romantic relationship: A prospective longitudinal study of non-verbal processes. Social Development, 16(3), 580-595.
Purdie, V. & Downey, G. (2000). Rejection sensitivity and adolescent girls' vulnerability to relationship-centered difficulties. Child Maltreatment, 5, 338-349.
Reynolds, W.M. (1992). Depression in children and adolescents. In W.M. Reynolds (Ed.), Internalizing disorders in children and adolescents (pp. 149-253). New York: Wiley.
Seiffge-Krenke, I. (2003). Testing theories of romantic development from adolescence to young adulthood: Evidence of a developmental sequence. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 27, 519-531.
Smorti, M., Benvenuti, P. & Pazzagli, A. (2010). Risk and protective factors in adolescents’ alcohol and drug use [Fattori di rischio e di protezione nel consumo di alcolici e di sostanze degli adolescenti], Psicologia Clinica dello Sviluppo, 1, 55-78.
Smorti, M., Vanni, D., Benvenuti, P. & Pazzagli, A. (2009). Depressive features, coping strategies and family in adolescence [Caratteristiche depressive, strategie di coping e ambiente familiare in adolescenza], Psicologia della Salute, 3, 37- 53.
Steinberg, S.J. & Davila, J. (2008). Romantic functioning and depressive symptoms among early adolescent girls: The moderating role of parental emotional availability. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 37, 350-362.
Tani, F., Bonechi A., Ingoglia, S. & Smorti, M. (submitted), The Role of Communication Strategies on Psychological Abuse in Romantic Relationships during College, Journal of Social Psychology.
Tani, F., Guarnieri, S., Perini, E. & Maggino, F. (2009). Psychosocial disorder and quality of friendship in adolescence [Amicizia e disagio psicologico in adolescenza]. Psicologia Clinica dello Sviluppo, 2, 307-326.
Tani F. & Steca P. (2007), Soddisfazione di coppia e benessere della persona: determinanti
personali e relazionali [Couple satisfaction and individuals’ well-being: personal and relational determinants] . Età evolutiva, 86, 67-76.
van Dulmen M.H.M., Goncy E.A., Haydon K.C. & Collins W.A. (2008). Distinctiveness of adolescent and emerging adult romantic relationship features in predicting externalizing behavior problems. Journal of Youth Adolescence, 37, 336-345.
Vujeva, H.M. & Furman, W. (2011). Depressive Symptoms and Romantic Relationship Qualities from Adolescence through Emerging Adulthood: A Longitudinal Examination of Influences, Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 40(1), 123-135.
Williams, S., Connolly, J. & Segal, Z.V. (2001). Intimacy in relationships and cognitive vulnerability to depression in adolescent girls. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 25, 477-496.
Wittchen, H.U., Fuetsch, M., Sonntag, H., Mueller, N. & Liebowitz, M. (2000). Disability and quality of life in pure and comorbid social phobia: Findings from a controlled study. European Psychiatry, 15, 46-58.
Youngstrom, E., Findling, R. & Calabrese, J. (2003). Who Are the Comorbid Adolescents? Agreement between Psychiatric Diagnosis, Youth, Parent, and Teacher Report. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 31(3), 231-2.