(2016) Science and education, 5, 7-29. Odessa.

Bogdan Pietrulewicz,
Doctor hab. of Psychology, professor,
Kazimierz Wielki University,
30, Jana Karola Chodkiewicza Str., Bydgoszcz, Poland
Laval University, Canada,
Larysa Zhuravlova,
Doctor hab. of Psychology, professor,
Dean of the Social and Psychological Faculty,
Head of the Department of Social and Applied Psychology,
Zhytomyr State University named after Ivan Franko,
40, Velyka Berdychivska Str., Zhytomyr, Ukraine

SIGNIFICANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS AND PSYCHOSOCIAL ADAPTATION DURING ADOLESCENCE

This study examines associations between different aspects of romantic involvement and psychosocial adaptation during adolescence. 901 students (432 boys, 469 girls) aged 12 to 17 years, who have been involved in at least one romantic relationship, answered questionnaires aimed at measuring ten parameters of romantic involvement (interest, age at the time of the first romance, average age of the partners, number of romantic relationships, number of broken hearts, average duration of relationship, duration of a recent, more significant relationship, time spent each week out of the school in this relationship, current romantic status, sexually active or not) and four indices of psychosocial adjustment (performance at school, body image, self-esteem, behavioural problems). The results demonstrate that it is possible to accurately predict poorer performance at school based on stronger romantic involvement, which is more significant for younger adolescents (ages 12 to 14) than for older ones (ages 15 to 17). Body image and self-esteem are positively and significantly related to greater involvement in romantic relationships, and boys differ from girls in terms of self-esteem parameters. Finally, behavioural problems are significantly associated with greater romantic involvement at all ages. The significance of correlation between variables ranges from weak to moderate, depending on age and gender (r ranging between 0.13 and 0.40) and the regression equations account for a generally modest portion of the total variance (6.3% to 11.7%). Differences attributable to age and gender refer to interaction effects concerning only few parameters. The results obtained are discussed in the context of psychosocial development in adolescence.

adolescence, attachment relationships, psychosocial adaptation

1. Achenbach, T. M. (1991). Manual for the Youth Self-Report and 1991 Profile. Burlington: University of Vermont Department of Psychiatry [in English].
2. Allgood-Merten, B., Lewinsohn, P., & Hops, H. (1990). Sex differences and adolescent depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99, 55-63 [in English].
3. Aneshensel, C. S. & Gore, S. (1991). Development, stress and role restructuring: social transitions of adolescence. The social context of coping. The Plenum series on stress and coping. Dans J. Eckenrode (Ed.). (pp. 55-77). New York: Plenum Press [in English].
4. Archer, J. (1992). Childhood gender roles: Social context and organisation. Childhood Social Development: Contemporary perspectives. McGurk (Ed.). (pp. 31-61). Hillsdale: Lawrence; New Jersey: Erlbaum Associates inc. [in English].
5. Bergeron, M.-E., Descoteaux, A., & Ouellet, J. (2001). Implication heterosexuelle chez les adolescents du sОМonНaТrО : ElaboratТon Н’un quОstТonnaТrО sur lОs aППТlТations mixtes al’adolescence [Heterosexual involvement in high school adolescence: Development of a questionnaire on mixed affiliations in adolescence]. Travail de recherche dirige non publie. Ecole de psychologie – Unpublished research work. School of Psychology. Universite Laval [in French].
6. Bergman, S. G. (1992). Dating violence among high school students. Social Works, 37, 21-27 [in English].
7. Berndt, T. J., & Hoyle, S. G. (1985). Stability and change in childhood and adolescence friendships. Developmental Psychology, 21 (6), 1007-1015 [in English].
8. Billy, J. O. G., Landale, N. S., Grady, W. R. & Zimmerle, D. M. (1988). Effects of sexual activity on adolescent social and psychological development. Social Psychology Quarterly, 51, 190-212 [in English].
9. Blau, G. M., & Gullotta, T. P. (1993). Promoting sexual responsibility. Adolescent Sexuality. T. P. Gullotta, G. R. Adams, & R. Montemayor (Eds.). New York: Sage [in English].
10. Bradford Brown, B., Feiring, C., & Furman, W. (1999). Missing the love boat: Why researchers have shied away from adolescent romance. The development of romantic relationships in adolescence. W. Furman, B. B. Brown, & C. Feiring (Eds.). (pp. 19-49). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press [in English].
11. Brown, G. G., & Theobald, W. (1996). Is teenage romance hazardous to adolescent health? Paper presented at the biennal meetings of the society for Research on adolescence. Boston [in English].
12. Bukowski, W. M., Sippola, L. K., & Hoza, B. (1999). Same and other: Interdependency between participation in same and other sex friendships. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28 (4), 439-460 [in English].
13. Burcky, W., Reuterman, N., & Kopsky, S. (1988). Dating violence among high school students. The School Counsellor, 35, 353-358 [in English].
14. Camirand, J. (1996). Un profil des enfants et des adolescents quebecois. Monographe no. 3. Enquete sociale et de sante 1992-1993 [A profile of Quebec children and teenagers. Monograph no. 3. Health and social survey 1992-1993]. Montreal, Sante Quebec: Ministere de la Sante et des services sociaux, gouvernement du Quebec [in French].
15. Capaldi, D. M., & Crosby, L. (1997). Observed and reported psychological and physical aggression in young, at-risk couples. Social Development, 6, 184-206 [in English].
16. Cauffman, E., & Steinberg, L. (1996). Interactive effects of menarcheal status and dating on dieting and disordered eating among adolescent girls. Developmental Psychology, 32 (4), 631-635 [in English].
17. Charbonneau, L., Forget, G., Frappier, J.-Y., Gaudreault, A., Guilbert, E., & Marquis, N. (1989). Adolescence et Fertilite: une responsabilite personnelle et sociКle; Кvis sur lК grossesse Кl’Кdolescence [Adolescence and fertility: personal and social responsibility; Advice on pregnancy in adolescence]. Quebec: Ministere de la Sante et des Services Sociaux [in French].
18. Cloutier, R., Champoux, L., Jacques, C., & Lancop, C. (1994). Enquete. Ados, families et milieu de vie : La parole aux ados [Investigation. Teens, families and the environment: Teen talk]. Universite Laval: Centre de recherche sur les services communautaires [in French].
19. Cloutier, R. (1996). Psychologie de l’Кdolescence [Psychology of adolescence]. Gaetan Morin (Ed.). 2nd ed., rev. Quebec: Boucherville [in French].
20. Cloutier, R., & Villeneuve, C. (1988). La grossesse adolescente: Facteurs de risque et processus de resolution [Adolescent Pregnancy: Risk Factors and Resolution Process]. Rapport de recherche soumis au Conseil de recherche en Sciences humaines de Canada – Research report on the social sciences and humanities research council of Canada [in French].
21. Coleman, J. C., & Hendry, L. (1990). The nature of Adolescence. Florence: Taylor and Francis, Routledge [in English].
22. Connolly, J. A., & Johnson, A. M. (1996). AdolОsМОnts’ romantТМ rОlatТonsСТps anН tСО struМturО anН quality of their interpersonal ties. Personal relationships, 3, 185-195 [in English].
23. Connolly, J., Craig, W., Goldberg, A., & Pepler, D. (1999). Conceptions of cross-sex friendships and romantic relationships in early adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28 (4), 481-494 [in English].
24. Csikszentmihalyi, M., & Larson, R. (1984). Being adolescent. New York: Basic [in English].
25. D’Amours, Y. (1995). Le point sur Ia delinquance et le suicide chez les jeunes [Increase of delinquency and youth suicide]. Quebec: Conseil permanent de la jeunesse [in French].
26. Darling, N., Dowdy, B. B., Lee Van Horn, M., & Caldwell, L. L. (1999). Mixed-set settings and the perception of competence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28 (4), 461-480 [in English].
27. Dedrick, R. F., Greenbaum, P.-E, Friedman, R. M., & Wetherington, C. M. (1997). Testing the structure of the Child Behaviour Checklist (4-18) using confirmatory factor analysis. Educational and psychological measurement, 57 (2), 306-313 [in English].
28. De Gaston, J. F., Jensen, L., & Weed, S. (1995). A closer look at adolescent sexual activity. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 24, 465-479 [in English].
29. Drolet, M., Lafleur, I., & Trottier, G. (1999). L’analвsО НТППОrОnМТОО НОs pОТnОs Н’amour МСОг lОs aНolescentes et les adolescents: Si la douleur avait un sexe? [The differential analysis of the penalties of love in adolescents: If the pain had a gender?]. Travail Social Canadien – Canadian Social Work. (pp. 31-41) [in French].
30. Dunphy, D. (1963). The social structure of urban adolescent peer groups. Sociometry, 26, 230-246 [in English].
31. Eliany, M., Wortley, S., & Adlaf, E. (1992). La МonsommatТon Н’alМool Оt Н’autrОs НroРuОs МСОг lОs УОunes Canadians [The use of alcohol and other drugs among Canadian youth]. RКpport technique de l’enquete nКtion- Кle sur l’Кlcool et les Кutres drogues - National alcohol and other drugs survey technical report [in French].
32. Erikson, E. H. (1959). Growth and crisis of the healthy personality. Psychological issues, 1, 50-100 [in English].
33. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton [in English].
34. Feiring, C. (1999). Gender identity and the development of romantic relationships in adolescence. The development of romantic relationships in adolescence. Dans W. Furman, B. B. Brown & C. Feiring (Eds). (pp. 211-234). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press [in English].
35. Feiring, C. (1999). Other-sex friendships networks and the development of romantic relationships in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28 (5), 495-512 [in English].
36. Feiring, C. (1996). Concepts of romance in 15- years old adolescents. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 6, 181-200 [in English].
37. Feiring, C., & Lewis, M. (1993). Do mothers knoа tСОТr tООnaРОrs’ ПrТОnНs? ImplТМations for individuation in early adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 22 (4), 337-354 [in English].
38. Feiring, C., & Lewis, M. (1991). The transition from middle childhood to early adolescence: sex differences in the social network and perceived selfcompetence. Sex Roles, 24, 489-509 [in English].
39. Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1992). Age and sex differences in perceptions of networks of personal relationships. Child Development, 63, 103-115 [in English].
40. Furman, W. & Wehner, E. A. (1997). Adolescent romantic relationship: A developmental perspective. Romantic relationships in adolescence: developmental perspectives. S. Shulman, & S. A. Collins (Eds.). (pp. 21-36). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers [in English].
41. Furman, W., & Wehner, E. A. (1994). Romantic views: toward a theory of adolescent romantic relationships. Personal relationships during adolescence. M. Montemayor, G. R. Adams, & T. P. Gullota (Eds.). (pp. 168-195). CA: Sage, Thousand Oaks [in English].
42. Graber, J. A., Petersen, A. C., & Brooks-Gunn, J. (1996). Pubertal processes: methods, measures, and models. Transitions through adolescence: Interpersonal domains and context. J. A. Graber (Ed.). (pp. 23-53). Mahwah, N.J.: Lawrence Erlbaum [in English].
43. Hanigan, D. (1987). Le suicide chez lesjeunes et les personnes ages: recension des ecrits et proposition Н’action [Suicide in the young and the elderly: a review of the writings and a proposal for action]. Commission d’enquete sur les services de sКnte et les services sociКux – Commission of inquiry on health and social services [in French]. 44. Hansen, D. J., Christopher, J. S., & Nangle, D. W. (1992). Adolescent heterosexual interactions and dating. Handbook of social development: a lifespan perspective in development psychology. B. Van Hasselt & M. Hersen (Eds.). (pp. 371-394). New York: Plenum Press [in English].
45. Havighurst, R. (1972). Developmental tasks in education. New York: McKay [in English].
46. Irwin, C. E., & Shafer, M. A. (1992). Adolescent sexuality: negative outcomes of a normative behaviour. Adolescence at risk: medical and social perspectives. Dans D. E. Rogers & E. Ginzberg (Eds.). Boulder: West View Press [in English].
47. Jessor, R., Costa, F., Jessor, L., & Donovan, J. (1983). Time of first intercourse: A prospective study. Journal of personality and Social psychology, 44, 608- 626 [in English].
48. Kovacs, D. M., Parker, J. G., & Hoffman, L. W. (1996). Behavioural, affective, and social correlates of involvement in cross-sex friendship in elementary school. Child Development, 67, 2269-2286 [in English].
49. Lafleur, L., Drolet, M., & Trottier, G. (1999). PОТnОs Н’amour Оt МomportОmОnts a rТsque chez les adolescents et les adolescentes [Penalties of love and risk behaviours in adolescents]. Rapport technique des Fonds Richelieu – Richelieu Fund Technical Report [in French].
50. Larson, R. W., Clore, G. L. & Wood, G. A. (1999). The emotions of romantic relationships: do they wreak havoc on adolescents? The development of romantic relationships in adolescence. W. Furman, B. B. Brown & C. Feiring (Eds.). (pp. 19-49). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press [in English].
51. Larson, R. & Asmussen, L. (1991). Anger, worry and hurt in early adolescence: an enlarging world of negative emotions. Adolescent Stress: Causes and Consequences. De Gruyter, M. E. Colten, & S. Gore (Eds.). New York [in English].
52. Leaper, C. (1994). Exploring the consequences of gender segregation on social relationships. Childhood Gender Segregation: Causes and consequences. C. Dans Leaper (Ed.). (pp. 67-86). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass [in English].
53. Leaper, C. & Anderson, K. J. (1997). Gender development and heterosexual romantic relationships during adolescence. Romantic relationships in adolescence: developmental perspectives. S. Shulman, & S. A. Collins (Eds.). (pp. 85-104). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers [in English].
54. Lempers, J. D., & Clark-Lempers, D. S. (1993). A functional comparison of same-sex and opposite friendships during adolescence. Journal of Adolescence Research, 8, 89-108 [in English].
55. Long, B. H. (1989). Heterosexual involvement of unmarried undergraduate females in relation to selfevaluations. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 18 (5), 489-500 [in English].
56. Maccoby, E. (1990). Gender and relationships: A developmental account. American Psychologist, 45, 513- 520 [in English].
57. Makepeace, J. M. (1987). Social factors and victim offender differences in courtship violence. Family Relationships, 36, 87-91 [in English].
58. Mannell, R. C. & Kleiber, D. A. (1997). A social psychology of leisure. PA: Venture Publishing, State College [in English].
59. Marcotte, D., Fortin, L., Potvin, P., & Papillon, M. (2002). Gender differences in depressive symptoms during adolescence: role of gender-typed characteristics, self-esteem, body image, stressful life events, and pubertal status. Journal of Emotional and Behavioural Disorders [in English].
60. MТllОr, K. (1990). AНolОsМОnts’ samО-sex and opposite-sex peer relations: Sex differences in popularity, perceived social competence, and social cognitive skills. Journal of Adolescent Research, 5, 222-241 [in English].
61. Neeman, J., Hubbard, J., & Masten, A. S. (1995). The changing importance of romantic relationship involvement to competence from late childhood to late adolescence. Development and psychopathology, 7, 727- 750 [in English].
62. Newcomb, M. D., Huba, G. J., Bentler, P. M. (1986). Life change events among adolescents: an empirical consideration of some methodological issues. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 174(5), 280-289 [in English].
63. Offer, D., Ostrov, C. E., & Howard, K. I. (1981). The adolescent: A psychological self-portrait. New York: Basic Books [in English].
64. Offer, D., Ostrov, C. E., & Howard, K. I. (1977). The Offer Self-Image Questionnaire for adolescents: A manual. Chicago: Michael Rees Hospital [in English].
65. Ostrov, W., Offer, D., Howard, K. L., Kaufman, B., & Meyer, H. (1985). Adolescent sexual behaviour. Medical aspects of human sexuality, 19, 28-36 [in English].
66. Papillon, M., Marcotte, D., & R. Cloutier (2000). L’influence de lК mКturКtion puЛertКire, des cКrКcteristiques tвpees Кu genre, de l’imКge corporelle et de l’estime de soi sur les sвmptomes depressifs К l’Кdolescence [The influence of pubertal maturation, typical characteristics of genus, body image and selfesteem on depressive symptoms in adolescence]. Twentyseventh International Congress of Psychology. Stockholm (Suede) [in French].
67. PapТllon, M. (2000). L’ТnПluОnМО de la maturation pubertaire, des caracteristiques typees au genre, de l’ТmaРО МorporОllО Оt НО l’estime de soi sur les symptomes de depression a l’adolescence [The influence of pubertal maturation (from typical characteristics to gender) body image and self-esteem on the symptoms of depression in adolescence]. MКster’s thesis. Quebec: Universite Laval [in French].
68. Paul, E. L., & White, K. M. (1990). The development of intimate relationships in late adolescence. Adolescence, 25, 375-400 [in English].
69. Phinney, V. G., Jensen, L. C., Olsen, J. A., & Cundick, B. (1990). The relationship between early development and psychosexual behaviour in adolescent females. Adolescence, 15, 321-332 [in English].
70. Quinton, D., Pickles, A., Maughan, T. & Rutter, M. (1993). Partners, peers and pathways: assortative pairing and continuities in conduct disorder. Development and Psychopathology, 5, 763-783 [in English].
71. Richards, M. H., Crowe, P. A., Larson, R., & Swarr, A. (1998). Developmental patterns and gender differences in the experience of peer companionship during adolescence. Child Development, 69 (1), 154-163 [in English].
72. Rickel, A. U., & Hendren, M. C. (1993). Aberrant sexual experiences. Adolescent sexuality. T. P. Gullotta, G. R. Adams, R. Montemayor (Eds.). New York: Sage [in English].
73. Rosenberg, M. (1965). Society and the adolescent self-image. New Jersey: Princeton University Press [in English].
74. Roscoe, B., Diana, M. S., & Brooks, R. H. (1987). Earlв, mТННlО anН latО aНolОsМОnts’ vТОаs on dating and factors influencing partner selection. Adolescence, 22, 59-68 [in English].
75. Samet, N., & Kelly, E. W. (1987). The relationships of steady dating to self-esteem and sex role identity among adolescents. Adolescence, 22, 231-245 [in English].
76. Sante Quebec (1992). Enquete quebecoise sur les facteurs de risque associes au Sida et autres MTS: la population des 15-29 ans [Quebec survey of risk factors associated with AIDS and other STDs: the population aged 15-29]. Quebec: Ministere de la Sante et des Services sociaux [in French].
77. Scott-Jones, D., & White, A. B. (1990). Correlates of sexual activity in early adolescence. Journal of early Adolescence, 10, 221-238 [in English].
78. Sharabany, R., Gershoni, R., & Hofman, J. E. (1981). Girlfriend, boyfriend: age and sex differences in intimate friendship. Developmental Psychology, 17 (6), 800-808 [in English].
79. Shulman, S., Levy-Shift, R., Kedem, P., & Alan, E. (1997). Intimate Relationships among adolescent romantic partners and same-sex friends: individuals and systemic perspectives. Romantic relationships in adolescence: Developmental perspectives. S. Shulman, & A. Collins (Eds.). (pp. 37-52), San Francisco: Jossey-Bass [in English].
80. Shulman, S. & Scharf., M. (2000). Adolescent romantik bihaviours and pirceptions: Age­ relatid differences and links with family and peer relationships. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 10, 99-118 [in English].
81. Simmons, R. G. & Blyth, D. A. (1987). Moving into adolescence: The impact of pubertal change and school context. New York: Aldine [in English].
82. Simmons, R. G., Blyth, D. A., Van Cleave, E. F., & Bush, D. M. (1979). Entry into early adolescence: the impact of school structure, puberty and early dating on self-esteem. American Sociological Review, 44, 948-967 [in English].
83. Sippola, L. K. (1999). Getting to know the other: the characteristics and developmental significance of other-sex relationships in adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28 (5), 407-418 [in English].
84. Sroufe, L, A., Carlson, E., & Shulman, S. (1993). The development of individuals in relationships: From infancy through adolescence. Studying lives through time: approaches to personality and development. D. C. Funder, R. Parke, C., Tomlinson-Keasey, & K. Widaman (Eds.). (pp. 315-342). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association [in English].
85. Sullivan, H.S. (1953). The interpersonal theory of psychiatry. New York: Norton.
86. Tabachnich, B. G., & Fidel, L. S. (1996). Using multivariate statistics. (3rd ed., rev.). New York: Harper Collins College Publishers [in English].
87. Tobin-Richard, M. H., Boxer, A. M., McNeil Kavrell, S. A., & Petersen, A. C. (1984). Puberty and its psychological and social significance. Experiencing adolescents: a sourcebook for parents, teacher and teens. R. M. Lerner, & N. L. Galambos (Eds.). (pp. 17-50). NewYork: Garland Pub. [in English].
88. Wilson-Shockley, S. (1995). Gender differences in adolescent depression: the contribution of negative effect: UnpuЛlished mКster’s thesis. Champaign: University of Illinois at Urbana [in English].
89. Wyss, C. A., Voelker, S. L., Garnock, B. L. & Hakim-Larson, J. (2003). Psychometric properties of a French-CanaНТan translatТon oП AМСОnbaМС’s YoutС SОlП- Report. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Sciences, 35(1), 67-71 [in English].
90. Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J. (1999). Stability, change and individual differences in involvement with friends and romantic partners among adolescent females. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 28 (5), 419-438 [in English].
91. Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Siebenbruner, J. & Collins, W. A. (2001). Diverse aspects of dating: associations with psychosocial functioning from early to middle adolescence. Journal of Adolescence, 24, 313-336 [in English].