Family and individual predictors of late adolescents' romantic relationships

The present study examined parent-adolescent conflict and late adolescents' attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms as predictors of late adolescents' romantic relationships. Questionnaires assessing parent-adolescent conflict resolution behaviors, adolescent-romantic partner conflict resolution behaviors, and adolescent attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms were completed by 256 college students (198 females and 58 males). Using hierarchical regression analyses, statistical models were tested wherein adolescent-romantic partner conflict resolution behaviors were regressed on mother-adolescent and father-adolescent conflict resolution behaviors and adolescents' attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms. All four predictor variables explained significant portions of the variance in adolescent-romantic partner conflict resolution behaviors; however, different predictors were found for females and males. For females, mother-adolescent and father-adolescent conflict resolution strategies and adolescent attachment anxiety were significant predictors. In contrast, father-adolescent conflict resolution behaviors and adolescent depressive symptom were significant predictors for males. Findings highlight the differential role of familial and individual attributes in female and male adolescents' romantic relationship functioning.