Does Age Matter in Relationship
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
2000, Vol. 79, No. 2, 224-237
Copyright 2000 by the American Psychological Association, Inc.
0022-3514/00/$5.00 DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.79.2.224
Competence in Early Adult Romantic Relationships:
A Developmental Perspective on Family Influences
Rand D. Conger, Ming Cui, and
Chalandra M. Bryant
Iowa State University
Glen H. Elder, Jr.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The present prospective, longitudinal study of 193 young adults (85 men, 108 women, M = 20.7 years old) and their partners in ongoing romantic relationships in 1997 was initiated in 1989, when the 193 target youths were in the 7th grade. On the basis of the model for the development of early adult romantic relationships (DEARR; C. Bryant & R. D. Conger, in press), the authors hypothesized that interactional processes in the family of origin would predict interpersonal skills by the target youths, which would be positively related to the early adult couple's relationship quality. Observational ratings showed that nurturant-involved parenting in the family of origin predicted behaviors by the target youth to a romantic partner that were warm, supportive, and low in hostility. These competent behaviors of the target youth were positively associated with relationship quality for the early adult couple and also mediated or explained the connection between parenting and relationship quality.
The achievement of interpersonal intimacy is widely regarded as a central developmental task of young adults (Berscheid, 1999;
Feldman, Gowen, & Fisher, 1998). Close social ties promote personal well-being, and the failure to establish or maintain such relationships in general, and romantic relationships in particular, predicts both physical and emotional distress (House, Landis, &
Umberson, 1988; Simon & Marcussen, 1999; Weiss & Heyman,
1997; Wickrama, Lorenz, Conger, & Elder, 1997). Despite the recognized importance of competence in
2000, Vol. 79, No. 2, 224-237
Copyright 2000 by the American Psychological Association, Inc.
0022-3514/00/$5.00 DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.79.2.224
Competence in Early Adult Romantic Relationships:
A Developmental Perspective on Family Influences
Rand D. Conger, Ming Cui, and
Chalandra M. Bryant
Iowa State University
Glen H. Elder, Jr.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The present prospective, longitudinal study of 193 young adults (85 men, 108 women, M = 20.7 years old) and their partners in ongoing romantic relationships in 1997 was initiated in 1989, when the 193 target youths were in the 7th grade. On the basis of the model for the development of early adult romantic relationships (DEARR; C. Bryant & R. D. Conger, in press), the authors hypothesized that interactional processes in the family of origin would predict interpersonal skills by the target youths, which would be positively related to the early adult couple's relationship quality. Observational ratings showed that nurturant-involved parenting in the family of origin predicted behaviors by the target youth to a romantic partner that were warm, supportive, and low in hostility. These competent behaviors of the target youth were positively associated with relationship quality for the early adult couple and also mediated or explained the connection between parenting and relationship quality.
The achievement of interpersonal intimacy is widely regarded as a central developmental task of young adults (Berscheid, 1999;
Feldman, Gowen, & Fisher, 1998). Close social ties promote personal well-being, and the failure to establish or maintain such relationships in general, and romantic relationships in particular, predicts both physical and emotional distress (House, Landis, &
Umberson, 1988; Simon & Marcussen, 1999; Weiss & Heyman,
1997; Wickrama, Lorenz, Conger, & Elder, 1997). Despite the recognized importance of competence in