The Role of Sibling Social Capital in Shaping Ideal Adolescent Romantic Relationships

• In Event: 41021 - Student Forum Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Roundtable 9: Global Family Dynamics

Abstract

The development of romantic relationships is a key phase of the adolescent portion of the life course. Previous research has established the importance of parent and peer influences in the development of such relationships, including through family and peer social capital, but little research has examined whether social capital derived from siblings is influential in how adolescents develop their ideas about romantic relationships. Using data from the National Study of ADolescent to Adult Health’s Sibling Subsample, we examine how sibling social capital affects the stability of how adolescents describe the norms they expect in an ideal romantic relationship. Specifically, we look at how sibling social capital might be related to inclusion of sexual contact in an ideal romantic relationship, to the maintenance of non-romantic relationships while in a romantic relationship, and to the importance of public acknowledgements of romantic relationships and partner status.

Authors

• Jocelyn Andrea Rosales, Brigham Young University

• Sara Stewart, Brigham Young University-Provo