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15 - Relationship Education in Emerging Adulthood: Problems and Prospects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 December 2010

By
Frank D. Fincham ,
Scott M. Stanley  and
Galena K. Rhoades
Edited by
Frank D. Fincham  and
Ming Cui
Frank D. Fincham
Affiliation:
Florida State University
Ming Cui
Affiliation:
Florida State University
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Summary

The literature on emerging adulthood (EA) has focused heavily on basic research, a reflection no doubt of continuing debate about fundamental features of this stage of development (see the special issue of Child Development Perspectives, 2007). Therefore it is not surprising that examination of applied issues relating to romantic relationships in EA has been limited to documenting an association between romantic relationships and psychological adjustment (see Chapter 14) and to showing that the quality of such relationships mediates the link between earlier parent–adolescent relationships and later mental health outcomes (Beyers & Seiffge-Krenke, 2007). The purpose of this chapter is to broaden attention to applied issues in the EA literature by considering how to facilitate what seems to be a prerequisite to entering adulthood: the ability to initiate and sustain an intimate romantic relationship with another person.

WHAT IS RELATIONSHIP EDUCATION AND IS IT NECESSARY?

Historically, relationship education has taken the form of marriage education and has been offered almost exclusively to couples. Such marriage education has its roots in religious institutions, and the precursor to modern programs was Pre-Cana premarital counseling now required of couples wishing to marry within the Catholic Church (Ooms, 2005). Until quite recently, most relationship education occurred in religious contexts, thereby excluding those who do not profess a religious faith or who are uncomfortable in such settings. Nonetheless, a substantial minority of marrying couples (44%) in the 1990s received some type of relationship education before marriage (Stanley, Amato, Johnson, & Markman, 2006).

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Chapter
Information
Romantic Relationships in Emerging Adulthood , pp. 293 - 316
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

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