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#2005-09: Adolescent Romantic Relationships and Young Adult Union Formation.
Authors: Ann Meier, Department of Sociology, University of Minnesota; Gina Allen, University of Minnesota; and Christina Falci, University of Minnesota
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ABSTRACT: Life course sociologists and developmental psychologists assert that adolescent romantic relationships further the developmental goal of providing “practice” for romantic relationships in adulthood. Yet, we know little about how patterns of romantic involvement in adolescence translate into young adult relationships. This paper examines the role of adolescents’ romantic relationship experience on young adult unions. Using three waves of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we identify adolescent romantic relationship trajectories. First, we investigate how relationship trajectories differ by age to confirm that relationship experience suggests a developmental pattern. Next, we estimate the association between adolescent romantic relationship trajectory and young adult union formation as measured by cohabitation and marriage. These analyses suggest that adolescent relationship experience influences young adult union formation, with somewhat different patterns for males and females.
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