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Do you have those vague memories of your childhood crushes? It may seem like a distant past and another life, disconnected from how you live your life now. But what if we told you that those teenage relationships actually play a significant role in how we shape our relationships today? That’s what a study recently published in the Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy suggests . Fascinating, right?
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How Teens Date
Recent research conducted by three scientists from different universities has shown that the thoughts of teenagers have a huge influence on their romantic relationships. It is no secret that the way we view love and relationships influences our actions, but what exactly are the thoughts that drive the behavior of young people? This is where the study sheds a unique light.
The researchers believe that relationship education, like sex education, could be the key to ensuring that young people build healthier relationships now and in the future. This can be achieved by, for example, being able to make better decisions, using:
- Improve communication skills
- Establishing realistic relationship expectations
- Encouraging a healthy pace in relationships
- Discuss ways to reduce the risk of violence in relationships
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5 types
Using an advanced analysis method called latent class analysis, researchers discovered five distinct patterns of thinking in the way young people date. The study surveyed 2,682 young people with an average age of 15.68.) Let’s take a look at these five classes and what they reveal about teen romance.
Low Risk
These teens are the most cautious in their romantic relationships. They have a realistic view of love and are aware of the potential risks and challenges that come with it.
Blindlove
For these young people, love is blind . They believe in the fairytale idea of love at first sight and let themselves be completely carried away by their feelings, without thinking much about the consequences.
Slider
Teens in this class tend to drift from one relationship to another without much depth. They find it difficult to focus on one person and have a superficial approach to love.
Blindlove Slider
This young person has characteristics of both the Blindlove and the Slider. This teen believes in love at first sight , but also has a tendency to move quickly from one relationship to another.
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Control Tolerant
In this class we find teens who want to maintain control in their romantic relationships. They have a strong need to be in control and find it difficult to let go .
The researchers found that only 1 in 3 teens falls into the low-risk group. The majority of teens fall into the riskier groups for relationship behavior and could benefit from relationship education, the researchers said. Girls, teens who are currently in a relationship, and those with higher well-being show less risky thinking patterns regarding relationships.
In addition, a gender difference was evident. Teenage boys are more likely to have problematic thoughts about relationships, such as a stronger belief in romance and impulsive relationship decisions, than teenage girls. This means that boys may be more susceptible to manipulation and control.
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