The culture of alcohol usage in western societies infiltrates almost every aspect of life, including romantic relationships. However, there is minimal research on the impact of drinking in the very early phase of dating relationships. The main objectives of this thesis were to develop greater understanding of the pattern of alcohol usage in the early phase of dating relationships and to explore the consequences of drinking on young adults' relationship quality and subjective experiences. Three studies were performed to address these aims. Study One aimed shed light on the prevalence of alcohol use on dates, the factors that drive individuals' alcohol usage, and the relational impact of such practice. Results from the online questionnaire (n = 282) showed the majority of participants drank on dates. This behaviour was primarily driven by their general drinking tendency and their partners' alcohol usage. The findings also suggest that drinking on dates may affect the level of intimacy experienced by women, but not men. Specifically, women's drinking positively predicted their own feelings of intimacy, but their partners' drinking was negatively associated with women's sense of intimacy. Study Two aimed to extend the findings of the previous study by exploring in depth young adults' experiences on dates using a semi-structured interview approach. A subset of participants from Study One (n = 44) returned for this study. Data were coded and thematically analysed through the lens of the Relational Turbulence Model. Participants expressed an expectation that alcohol usage would have beneficial effects on dating experiences and relationship quality. A range of descriptors of the sense of uncertainty and issues of partner inference that resulted from alcohol usage also emerged from participants' discourse. Together, the results suggested that drinking between dating partners may evoke or reflect turbulence in the relationship. Dating is an interpersonal experience, and the cornerstone of dating research is dyadic investigations. Study Three employed a dyadic design to explore the effects of couples' drinking on both dyad members' feelings of intimacy and experiences of turbulence (n = 66 couples). Results from the paper questionnaire revealed only women's drinking had significant associations with relational outcomes. To the extent that women drank in the absence of their partners, they also reported higher levels of uncertainty. Women's alcohol usage also showed significant relationships with male partners' intimacy. Specifically, men's intimacy was negatively associated with women's alcohol usage outside of the relationship, but was positively associated with women's drinking in their presence. The consistency and discrepancy in the findings across the three studies are discussed. Overall, results demonstrated diverse and complex associations between drinking, intimacy, and turbulence in the early phase of dating relationships. Implications for theories, relationship advisors and dating couples, and future research are provided. An additional study that extends the exploration of dating and relationship experiences to a group of individuals who consumed alcohol at heavy and pathological levels is presented in the Clinical Practicum Appendix.

The prevalence of heavy alcohol use increases across adolescence and young adulthood, creating risks for health and development. Social relationships, including friendships and romantic and sexual relationships, may influence adolescent and young adult alcohol use. Understanding diverse social influences on heavy alcohol use in adolescence and young adulthood is important for preventing heavy alcohol use and its associated negative consequences. In this dissertation, I examined how diverse social relationships are associated with heavy alcohol use during adolescence and young adulthood. By incorporating multiple relationships and exploring multiple mechanisms of social influence, this dissertation advances understanding of both who matters for heavy alcohol use in adolescence/young adulthood, and how those individuals matter.In Paper 1, I used data from PROSPER to examine the unique associations of close others frequency of drunkenness, unstructured socializing, and alcohol-related attitudes with adolescents (ages 13-18) own frequency of drunkenness. I distinguished between the contributions of romantic partners, friends, and romantic partners friends in order to determine whether these potential sources of influence have unique associations with drunkenness. When examined separately, close others frequency of drunkenness, alcohol-related attitudes, and unstructured socializing each predicted adolescents own frequency of drunkenness. However, in a combined model, only friends frequency of drunkenness contributed independently to adolescents frequency of drunkenness. Furthermore, unstructured socializing with friends predicted increased frequency of drunkenness as adolescents aged. In Paper 2, I assessed how romantic partners binge drinking and negative alcohol-related consequences are associated with changes in young adults (ages 18-24 at baseline) own binge drinking using data from Add Health. I also explored whether relationship type (dating, cohabiting, or married) moderated these associations. Young adults increased their binge drinking frequency over six years if their partner binge drank more frequently at baseline. In addition, individuals increased their binge drinking frequency if their partners experienced more negative alcohol-related consequences at baseline; however, this association was no longer significant after controlling for additional variables. None of the associations measured differed by relationship type.In Paper 3, I used data from the University Life Study to examine how sexual behavior with committed romantic and casual sexual partners, and with and without heavy alcohol use, is associated with daily fluctuations in college students affect. Sexual behavior was associated with increases in positive affect and decreases in negative affect. These improvements in affect did not differ according to heavy alcohol use, sexual partner type, or interactions of these variables with each other or with semester in college.Overall, the results of this dissertation highlight the importance of friends in determining adolescents heavy alcohol use and the importance of romantic/sexual partners in determining young adults heavy alcohol use. The mechanisms of social influence on heavy alcohol use differ between friendships and romantic relationships and across developmental stages. Findings suggest that prevention strategies may differ when addressing friends versus romantic partners potential influences on heavy alcohol use.

Emerging adulthood - the period between the late teens and mid-twenties - is a unique and important developmental period during which people gain relationship experience before settling on someone to partner with. Romantic Relationships in Emerging Adulthood presents a synthesis of cutting-edge research and theory on this topic. Leading scholars from demography, sociology, family studies, and psychology provide original data and theoretical analyses that address the formation, nature, and significance of romantic relationships in emerging adults. Until recently, it was assumed that romantic relationships in emerging adults were not particularly important or formative. The material presented allows this assumption to be thoroughly evaluated. This volume is intended to be a resource for anyone interested in understanding romantic relationships in emerging adulthood. It is especially appropriate for classroom use in upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in the fields of family sociology, human development and family studies, clinical and developmental psychology, and social work.

The sexual revolution: an evocative term, but what meaning can be given to it today? How does 'sexuality' come into being and what connections does it have with the changes that have affected personal life on a more general plane? In answering these questions, Anthony Giddens disputes many of the dominant interpretations of the role of sexuality in modern culture. The emergence of what the author calls plastic sexuality - sexuality freed from its intrinsic relation to reproduction - is analysed in terms of the long-term development of the modern social order and social influences of the last few decades. Giddens argues that the transformation of intimacy, in which women have played the major part, holds out the possibility of a radical democratization of the personal sphere. This book will appeal to a large general audience as well as being essential reading for students and professionals.

Helps students understand how culture impacts development in adolescence and emerging adulthood. Grounded in a global cultural perspective (within and outside of the US), this text enriches the discussion with historical context and an interdisciplinary approach, including studies from fields such as anthropology and sociology, in addition to the compelling psychological research on adolescent development. This book also takes into account the period of "emerging adulthood" (ages 18-25), a term coined by the author, and an area of study for which Arnett is a leading expert. Arnett continues the fifth edition with new and updated studies, both U.S. and international. With Pearson's MyDevelopmentLab Video Series and Powerpoints embedded with video, students can experience a true cross-cultural experience. A better teaching and learning experience This program will provide a better teaching and learning experience-- for you and your students. Here's how: Personalize Learning - The new MyDevelopmentLab delivers proven results in helping students succeed, provides engaging experiences that personalize learning, and comes from a trusted partner with educational expertise and a deep commitment to helping students and instructors achieve their goals. Improve Critical Thinking - Students learn to think critically about the influence of culture on development with pedagogical features such as Culture Focus boxes and Historical Focus boxes. Engage Students - Arnett engages students with cross cultural research and examples throughout. MyVirtualTeen, an interactive simulation, allows students to apply the concepts they are learning to their own "virtual teen." Explore Research - "Research Focus" provides students with a firm grasp of various research methods and helps them see the impact that methods can have on research findings. Support Instructors - This program provides instructors with unbeatable resources, including video embedded PowerPoints and the new MyDevelopmentLab that includes cross-cultural videos and MyVirtualTeen, an interactive simulation that allows you to raise a child from birth to age 18. An easy to use Instructor's Manual, a robust test bank, and an online test generator (MyTest) are also available. All of these materials may be packaged with the text upon request. Note: MyDevelopmentLab does not come automatically packaged with this text. To purchase MyDevelopmentLab, please visit: www.mydevelopmentlab.com or you can purchase a ValuePack of the text + MyDevelopmentlab (at no additional cost): ValuePack ISBN-10: 0205911854/ ValuePack ISBN-13: 9780205911851. Click here for a short walkthrough video on MyVirtualTeen! http://www.youtube.com/playlist'list=PL51B144F17A36FF25&feature=plcp

Adolescenceâ€"beginning with the onset of puberty and ending in the mid-20sâ€"is a critical period of development during which key areas of the brain mature and develop. These changes in brain structure, function, and connectivity mark adolescence as a period of opportunity to discover new vistas, to form relationships with peers and adults, and to explore one's developing identity. It is also a period of resilience that can ameliorate childhood setbacks and set the stage for a thriving trajectory over the life course. Because adolescents comprise nearly one-fourth of the entire U.S. population, the nation needs policies and practices that will better leverage these developmental opportunities to harness the promise of adolescenceâ€"rather than focusing myopically on containing its risks. This report examines the neurobiological and socio-behavioral science of adolescent development and outlines how this knowledge can be applied, both to promote adolescent well-being, resilience, and development, and to rectify structural barriers and inequalities in opportunity, enabling all adolescents to flourish.

Between adolescence and adulthood, individuals begin to explore themselves mentally and emotionally in an attempt to figure out who they are and where they fit in society. Social technologies in the modern age have ushered in an era where these evolving adolescents must circumvent the negative pressures of online influences while also still trying to learn how to be utterly independent. Recent Advances in Digital Media Impacts on Identity, Sexuality, and Relationships is a collection of critical reference materials that provides imperative research on identity exploration in emerging adults and examines how digital media is used to help explore and develop one’s identity. While highlighting topics such as mobile addiction, online intimacy, and cyber aggression, this publication explores a crucial developmental period in the human lifespan and how digital media hinders (or helps) maturing adults navigate life. This book is ideally designed for therapists, psychologists, sociologists, psychiatrists, researchers, educators, academicians, and professionals.