Society's Influences on Decision-Making for Adolescents Regarding Romantic Relationships

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Emily Trapp (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Adolescence is an important time in the formation and exploration of romantic relationships (Furman , 2002). Due to this , some may consider this to be an important time period to promote healthy sexual and relationship attitudes , beliefs and behaviors. Additionally , romantic relationships among adolescents are found to lack research compared to those of adults , showing the need for more studies to be conducted among this population (Whittaker , Alder-Baeder & Garneau , 2014). The purpose of this study is to understand how society influences entering healthy , romantic relationships and to understand how adolescents conceptualize a healthy , romantic relationship. Using both a survey and focus groups , data were collected from five adolescents who were members of a local Boys and Girls Club surrounding the implementation of the Love Notes curriculum. This study served to answer a) how society influences entering healthy , romantic relationships , b) what adolescents conceptualize to be a healthy , romantic relationship and c) discover if this conceptualization of healthy relationships changes from pre-focus group to post-focus group. Through the theory of Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model , results found that adolescents are influenced regarding healthy , romantic relationships on a multitude of systemic , societal levels. These include peers , family , schools and social media. Furthermore , these results suggested that societal levels are influential both individually and by interacting together.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2018

Keywords

Romantic, Society

Subjects

Email this document to