Variations in Adolescent Romantic Relationships: a Pattern-centered Approach

The current study examines the variability in adolescents’subjective experience of romantic relationships in a large, diverse sample of currently dating youth. Relying on cluster analysis, five types of relationships are identified: passionate (17.1%), conventional (28.3%), insecure (24.6%), casual (19.2%), and conflictual (10.6%). A series of one-way ANOVAs, regressions, and excerpts from face-to-face interviews are included to describe each of the relationship profiles from the perspective of the dating adolescent and to verify the classification strategy. Analyses document some sociodemographic differences (e.g., age, gender, race/ethnicity) associated with variations in the qualities and dynamics within these relationships, and indicate that these relationship patterns are associated with differences in grades, depressive symptoms, and delinquency. Implications for research on adolescent dating experiences are discussed.