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6 - Intergenerational Continuities in Economic Pressure and Couple Conflict in Romantic Relationships

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 December 2010

By
Rand D. Conger ,
Ming Cui  and
Frederick O. Lorenz
Edited by
Frank D. Fincham  and
Ming Cui
Frank D. Fincham
Affiliation:
Florida State University
Ming Cui
Affiliation:
Florida State University
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Summary

This chapter draws on three important themes in contemporary research on families and close relationships to provide new insights regarding important precursors of the quality of romantic unions during emerging adulthood. As Arnett (2004) noted, emerging adulthood, a period from 18 to 25 years old or perhaps even older, is a time of exploring possibilities and opportunities before assuming adult roles. In particular, Arnett (2004) suggested that it is a time for young people to explore their options in romance with different partners to discover what kind of person they would like to marry and to gain relationship experience before choosing someone to marry. Therefore, romantic relationships during this period could be self-focused and unstable. However, as Collins and van Dulmen (2006) pointed out, there is substantial continuity in close relationships (e.g., parent–child relationships, friendships, romantic relationships), and development in one period of life is built on development during an earlier time. This view is consistent with the life course perspective (Elder, 1985) that people's life trajectories are determined by a series of linked stages in which transitions from one state to another are always embedded in and have an impact on those trajectories. Therefore, the establishment of stability, satisfaction, and closeness in romantic relationships is one of the major developmental tasks during emerging adulthood.

Type
Chapter
Information
Romantic Relationships in Emerging Adulthood , pp. 101 - 122
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

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