SAGE Journal Articles

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Journal Article 14.1: Roberts, W., & Davis, J. P. (2016). Young adulthood is the crucible of personality development. Emerging Adulthood, 4, 318–326.

Learning Objective: 14.1 Summarize psychosocial development in early adulthood.

Abstract: The last two decades have seen a rapid acceleration of research on personality development focusing on the periods of late adolescence and young adulthood. The findings paint a picture of surprising quiescence in adolescence followed by a period of tremendous growth and change in personality traits in young adulthood. The patterns and potential reasons for these changes are discussed in the context of the Neo-Socioanalytic model of personality and the theory of emerging adulthood. The potential for convergence and collaboration between the fields of personality development and emerging adulthood is discussed.

Journal Article 14.2: Wright, E. M. (2015). The relationship between social support and intimate partner violence in neighborhood context. Crime and Delinquency, 61, 1333–1359.

Learning Objective: 14.2 Discuss influences on friendship and mate selection and interactions in early adulthood.

Abstract: Social support has been recognized as a protective factor associated with reduced intimate partner violence (IPV). A question that few studies have examined, however, is whether the effectiveness of social support on IPV is conditioned by the neighborhood in which it occurs. This study investigated whether the separate effects of support from friends and family members on partner violence were conditioned by neighborhood disadvantage. Results indicated that social support from family significantly reduced the prevalence and frequency of IPV, whereas support from friends was associated with higher frequencies of partner violence. Importantly, the effects of social support were contextualized by neighborhood disadvantage, with the impact of both forms of social support on IPV being diminished in neighborhoods characterized by higher levels of disadvantage.

Journal Article 14.3: Halpern-Meekin, S., Manning, W. D., Giordano, P. C., & Longmore, M. A. (2013). Relationship churning in emerging adulthood: On/off relationships and sex with an ex. Journal of Adolescence Research, 28, 166–188.

Learning Objective: 14.3 Analyze the diverse romantic situations that may characterize early adulthood, including singlehood, cohabitation, marriage, and divorce.

Abstract: We build on the emerging adulthood literature to examine two forms of relationship instability, reconciliations and sex with an ex; we term these forms of relationship churning. Analyzing recent data on emerging adult daters and cohabitors (n = 792), we find that nearly half report a reconciliation (a breakup followed by reunion) and over half of those who break up continue a sexual relationship (sex with an ex). We analyze individual demographic, social psychological, and relationship factors associated with reconciliations and sex with an ex. These findings showcase that emerging adult relationships are characterized by considerable uncertainty and add to our theoretical and empirical understanding of stability in romantic relationships in emerging adulthood.