College Dating and Relationships Study
The College Dating And Relationships Study is complete. Results suggest that, in contrast to adolescents, being involved in dating or sexual activities does not generally appear to promote depressive symptoms in emerging adults. In fact, being in a committed relationship is linked with fewer depressive symptoms for young women (see poster below or a a more thorough manuscript) and with less alcohol problems and binge drinking for both men and women. Moreover, as has been seen in adults, more satisfaction with one’s relationship is associated with having fewer depressive and anxiety symptoms. This is particularly true for women and for men in more committed, longer term relationships.
Further, based on results from another manuscript from this study, intrapersonal characteristics are also important to consider. For example, it appears that the association between relationship quality and depressive symptoms is stronger for women with higher, versus lower, levels of femininity. In addition, co-rumination was also observed to moderate the association, such that there was a stronger tie between satisfaction and depressive symptoms for men and women with higher, versus lower, levels of co-rumination.
If you have any questions about the CDAR study, please contact us at UCRelationshipsLab@gmail.com.
A large body of research suggests that being involved in a meaningful relationship, particularly a high-quality romantic relationship, is a strong protective factor against depression and other mental health problems, like substance abuse, in adults (e.g., Whisman, 2000).
In contrast, during adolescence, romantic involvement is associated with greater levels of depressive symptoms (e.g., Quatman, Sampson, Robinson, and Watson, 2001).
Emerging adulthood (ages 18 - 25) is a distinct stage of life between adolescence and adulthood. Little if any research has assessed the association between romantic involvement and depression in this period of life, during which individuals typically face stressors unique to both adolescence and adulthood. We are interested in exploring how depressive symptomatology is related to romantic involvement and quality of romantic relationships in college students who are emerging adults.
