Dating Anxiety among Young Adults: The Impact of Communicative Attributes, Mate Value, and Baggage on the Dating Experience

• In Event: Top Four Papers: Communication Apprehension and Competence Division

Abstract

College life allows students to form new and different relationships which can prove stressful for some individuals. This study examined the linkage of perceived mate value, perceived baggage, interpersonal competence, interpersonal apprehension, and dating anxiety among young adults. Overall, results indicate that participants (N= 332) experienced higher dating anxiety when they were more interpersonally apprehensive, interpersonally incompetent, possessed high baggage, and when they were involved with a partner of high value.

Authors

• Robert Sidelinger, Oakland University

• Brandi Frisby, West Virginia University

• Melanie Booth-Butterfield, West Virginia University