All Resources for Audience: Researchers

Results highlight the importance of considering a developmental timetable for the maturation of relationships and social skills, as well as the need to acknowledge individual variability in patterns of friendship intimacy.

Generating an evidence base to prevent teen dating violence and promote healthy relationships across the life span.

Some relationship activities and parental communication about contraception were significant predictors of contraception, and their influence differed by gender.

Family connectedness may be protective against sexual risk-taking.

Evidence that romantic relationships create bridges in friendship networks heightens their importance for the diffusion of health-risk behaviors, and should spark future research focused on the social contexts of adolescent romance and behavioral change.

Programs focused on delaying teenage sexual intercourse should address norms for sexual behavior among adolescents' close friends.

A review of more than 360 research studies detailing intervention strategies found to be effective.

Suggests an approach grounded in the principles of positive youth development to reduce risk factors and improve the protective factors that contribute to adolescents’ successful and healthy transition into adulthood.

Youth described that platonic peers (friends) influenced their relationships and sexual behavior including pressuring friends into relationships, establishing relationships as currency for popularity and social status, and creating relationship norm and expectations.

Overview and statistics for stakeholders, researchers, practitioners Includes state by state data and resources in these topics: Dating and Sexual Relationships, Bullying, LGBT, Dating Violence, Healthy Friendships, Talking With Teens.

Summary of Kirby Summit on adolescent brain development and neuroscience. Includes three key messages and recommendations for researchers, program developers, TTA providers, and funders.

Research summary that concludes programs aimed at preventing teen dating violence or promoting healthy teen relationships more broadly are likely to be most effective if they take into consideration the potential ways in which peers and peer contexts shape teens’ experiences within close relationships.

In this Research Brief, Child Trends used the “Romantic Pair” subsample of a long-term study of adolescent health to describe relationship dynamics among young adults in heterosexual relationships.

Adolescents who reported greater levels of intimacy with friends do not, as adults, indicate that they have significantly higher self-esteem, better relations with their parents, or increased marital satisfaction.