Adolescent Romantic Relationships in the Digital Age
Development
Developmental Processes
Rachel E. Goldberg,
Marta Tienda,
Rachel E. Goldberg
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California
Search for more papers by this authorRachel E. Goldberg,
Marta Tienda,
Rachel E. Goldberg
University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
This essay summarizes key substantive findings about adolescent romantic relationships, identifying methodological and measurement innovations that have broadened understanding of their precursors and consequences. Research to date has been limited by narrow definitions of what constitutes a relationship; a focus on specific behaviors (e.g., sexual activity) to the neglect of relational dynamics; and insufficient measurement precision to portray fluctuations in the character of involvement and partnership quality. The final section discusses the implications of mobile technologies for administering intensive longitudinal surveys that are better suited to study the dynamics and consequences of teen romance in the digital age.
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