Dating and Mental Health in Adolescence

The study of the relationship between dating and mental health demonstrates a complex bidirectional interaction, particularly during the period of adolescence (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019). Dating refers to mutually understood romantic relationships, characterised by regular interaction and intimacy (Collins, Welsh & Furman, 2009), although the understanding of what constitutes a dating relationship differs. Mental health can be understood in terms of the level of wellbeing one possesses, as well as the presence/absence of mental illness/disorder (Keyes, 2007). Adolescence is a period (10-19 years) associated with large emotional change and wellbeing development, acting as indicators of mental health (Joyner & Udry, 2000). In adolescence, relational stressors (surrounding interpersonal relationships) often activate mental health issues (Thorsen & Pearce-Morris, 2016), representing the importance of understanding the relationship between dating and mental health during this period. This article will focus on several models and research findings suggesting an influence of dating relationships on mental health, with reference to gender and sexuality differences (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019). The opposite direction, of how mental health can influence dating in adolescence, will also be briefly discussed in order to represent the bidirectionality of the the relationship between dating and mental health. However, this direction of the relationship warrants more in depth exploration in future articles.

Background

Individuals tend to experience their first romantic encounters during adolescence (Joyner & Udry, 2000). Compared to other age groups, adolescents are often involved in more frequent yet unstable dating relationships, before developing into involvement with more committed relationships in adulthood (Collins, Welsh & Furmnan, 2009). Therefore, this age range is of particular interest to researchers when investigating both the positive and negative mental health effects of intimacy in dating (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019).

Despite this, research has tended to focus on understanding the features of/processes involved in adolescent romance (Davila, 2008). Thus far, there has been limited research into the interaction between adolescent dating and mental health (Davila, 2008), leaving a considerable gap in the literature. This is perhaps partly due to the difficulty faced in studying this relationship, due to the large variance in the understanding of what 'dating' constitutes during this period, making it difficult to define (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019). Also, the bidirectional relationship between mental health and dating makes it difficult to infer causality, as dating during adolescence has been identified as both the cause and result of aspects of mental health (Joyner & Udry, 2000). Dating may influence adolescents' mental health, whilst high wellbeing (as an aspect of mental health) may also act as a protective factor, encouraging positive interpersonal relationships (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019).

Influence of mental health on dating in adolescence

Adolescents with poor mental health, characterised by depressive symptoms and low wellbeing, may experience delayed development in terms of romantic experience (Thorsen & Pearce-Morris, 2016). Deviation from the norm of first experiencing romantic encounters during adolescence may be attributed to impaired social functioning, as a result of poor mental health (Joyner & Udry, 2000). For example, depressive symptoms have been found to complicate romantic relationship progression during adolescence (Thorsen & Pearce-Morris, 2016), representing the influence of mental health on dating. A positive correlation between self-esteem and number of dating partners in adolescence has been identified (Thorsen & Pearce-Morris, 2016), further suggesting such an influence.

Influence of dating on mental health in adolescence

Positive psychology and relationship quality

Positive psychology focuses on the ways individuals can flourish, through different beneficial processes/conditions, which contribute towards wellbeing (Rusk & Waters, 2013). In terms of the influence of dating on mental health in adolescence, benefits include satisfying an individual's 'need to belong', which is particularly prevalent in adolescence, through providing intimacy and importance (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019). Dating encourages adolescent social integration through promoting the development of interpersonal relationships, which can enhance self-esteem (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019).

Furthermore, high sexual health in adolescent girls, which may coincide with involvement in dating, has been associated with increased wellbeing (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019). Sexual engagement may enable adolescents to experience pleasure, whilst also enhancing autonomy and confidence (Vrangalova & Savin-Williams, 2011). However, this positive relationship between sexual activity and wellbeing is suggested to be dependent on the presence of positive outcomes of the sexual engagement, like increased intimacy (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo, Ortega-Ruiz, 2019). Several studies have found sexual intercourse to be positively correlated with depression (Halfors et al., 2005), especially when the dating relationship lacks an emotional commitment (Meier, 2007). This represents an importance in the quality of a relationship, in understanding the effects of sexual activity in dating, on adolescent mental health.

The influence of dating on mental health in adolescence has been suggested to be moderated by indicators of relationship quality, regardless of the presence of sexual engagement (Soller, 2014). Such indicators may include perceived intimacy, commitment and attachment (Soller, 2014). For example, the multidimensional model of romantic wellbeing proposes that in order to experience the positive effects of dating, individuals need to feel fulfilled through achievement of their personal and relational goals (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019).

Ideal romantic script

When an adolescent acts in accordance with their ideal romantic script (expectations about how their dating experiences occur and develop), reported mental health and wellbeing increases (Soller, 2014). This is supported in that congruence between ideal and real dating experiences of adolescents can act as a predictor of wellbeing (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019). Such congruence enables adolescents to confirm their idealised view of themselves as a romantic partner and develop this as a specific role identity, potentially increasing self-worth by providing meaning to one's identity (Soller, 2014).

However, the emotional strain that dating relationships in adolescence can cause act as a negative effect of dating on mental health (Davila, 2008). For example, a positive correlation has been identified between the frequency of dating partners and depressive symptoms in adolescents (Quatman et al., 2001). This may support the notion that if an adolescent's expectations of an ideal dating experience (according to their ideal romantic script) are not met, this can negatively influence their wellbeing and may cause high levels of negative affect (Compian, Gowen & Hayward, 2004; Soller, 2014). Experiencing conflict within a dating relationship, for example, is likely to diverge from one's ideal romantic script, in turn harming one's self-evaluation of themselves as a romantic partner (Soller, 2014). Further, perceived inauthenticity in an adolescents' dating relationships has been identified as positively correlating with poor mental health, in terms of increased depression (Soller, 2014).

Gender differences

However, the mental health effects of incongruence between adolescents' ideal and real dating experiences, and perceived inauthenticity are found to be more prevalent in female adolescents (Joyner & Urdy, 2000). This may be due to the emphasised importance of romantic relationships in girls' perceptions of themselves and their role identities (Joyner & Udry, 2000). Furthermore, co-rumination refers to an excessive focus on/discussion surrounding personal problems & negative emotions within friendships (Davila, 2008), and has been identified as more prevalent among adolescent girls (Rose, 2021). Female adolescents appear influenced by the negative effects of unstable dating relationships to a greater extent than adolescent boys, as co-rumination has been suggested to increase the positive correlation between romantic experiences and depressive symptoms (Starr & Davila, 2009).

Despite this, male adolescents reported significantly increased depression if they had experienced the ending of a dating relationship within the past month (Joyner & Urdy, 2000), representing males' mental health to also be influenced by dating. Evidence suggests that adolescents tend to experience more changeable and unstable relationships compared to adults (Thorsen & Pearce-Morris, 2016). This demonstrates an increased likelihood of mental health declines associated with relationships in adolescence, compared to adulthood.

Models of the relationship between dating and mental health in adolescence

"Stress and Coping Model" (Larson, Clore & Wood, 1999)

The negative mental health effects of dating have been suggested to be emphasised in adolescence, due to this being an already turbulent period for mental health (Joyner & Udry, 2000). The "Stress and Coping Model" (Larson, Clore & Wood, 1999) suggests that the mental resources and emotional maturity required in dating, are beyond those possessed by adolescents, meaning they are unable to endure the stress associated with multifaceted dating relationships. For example, the ambiguity of what a dating relationship constitutes is likely to be heightened in adolescence as a result of limited experience in romantic relationships, potentially increasing conflicts between partners (Soller, 2014). Such conflicts may result in the breakdown of relationships, due to partners' insufficient resolution and emotion regulation skills (Soller, 2014). Therefore, the heightened stress generated by adolescent dating relationships are thought to be beyond manageable for individuals within this age (Davila, 2008). This represents the reciprocal relationship between dating and mental health, as the negative effect of increased stress caused by a dating experience, may deter an adolescent from involving themselves in further dating relationships until they feel more equipped.

"Attention impairment model" (Joyner & Udry, 2000)

The attention impairment model proposes to explain the negative influences of dating on adolescent mental health, through suggesting that romantic activity during this phase diverts attention away from other significant domains of functioning, like other interpersonal relationships and academia (Davila, 2008). In turn, such inattention weakens the development of these other functions, increasing the likelihood of experiencing negative affect. For example, Joyner & Udry (2008) identified substandard school performance as being involved in the relationship between dating involvement and depressive symptoms. This suggests that dating in adolescence may negatively influence mental health, through promoting a fixation in attention to thoughts surrounding one's current dating relationship, causing a lack of focus in other areas, which can negatively influence one's sense of worth (Davila, 2008). Although, the attention impairment model cannot be inferred to suggest causality (Davila, 2008). For example, rather than involvement in dating intervening in academic success, it may be that those performing less well academically are more inclined to become involved in dating. This reinforces the suggestion that the interaction between dating and mental health in adolescence is bidirectional, making it difficult to clearly understand the mechanisms underlying this relationship.

Dating and mental health in sexual minority adolescents

The relationship between dating and mental health has been identified as affecting sexual minority adolescents differently to heterosexual adolescents (Joyner & Udry, 2000), which may be associated with differing levels of mental health prior to dating involvement (Joyner & Udry, 2000). Asexual and homosexual adolescents have been consistently suggested to experience a greater risk of depression in adolescence than heterosexual adolescents (Joyner & Udry, 2000). However, adolescents involved in same-sex dating relationships have been identified as having positively influenced mental health, in terms of increased self-esteem and decreased levels of internalised homophobia (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019). The increased sense of support and importance often provided by heterosexual dating relationships (Gomez-Lopez, Viejo & Ortega-Ruiz, 2019), may be more significant in same-sex relationships. Sexual minority adolescents may be more inclined to expect romantic rejection as a result of their sexuality (Baams, Kiekens & Fish, 2020). Therefore, when involved in a dating relationship LGBTQ+ individuals may feel an increased sense of self-worth and acceptance towards their sexuality (Joyner & Udry, 2000).

Greater outness of sexuality has been associated with increased mental health, including an increased quality of life (Meidlinger & Hope, 2014). However, many sexual minority adolescents involved in dating relationships may not have expressed their sexuality to family/peers (Abreu et al., 2024). Low outness in the context of dating relationships between LGB individuals has been correlated with increased stress and lower commitment (Totenhagen, Randall & Lloyd, 2018). Therefore, sexual minority adolescents may experience a greater vulnerability to low mental health as a result of dating involvement, depending on their and their partners' outness.

Nevertheless, there is considerable research yet to be done around dating and mental health in sexual minority adolescents, particularly within changing social climates and varying cultures. This gap in the literature, though perhaps most considerable among this demographic, exists across all adolescent groups, reflecting a need for further investigation.

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