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Multiple Dimensions of Peer Influence in Adolescent Romantic and Sexual Relationships: A Descriptive, Qualitative Perspective

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Abstract

Adolescents undergo critical developmental transformations that increase the salience of peer influence. Peer interactions (platonic and romantic) have been found to have both a positive and negative influence on adolescent attitudes and behaviors related to romantic relationships and sexual behavior. This study used qualitative methodology to explore how peers influence romantic and sexual behavior. Forty adolescents participated in individual semi-structured interviews. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, and analyzed using a modified grounded theory approach. The concept of peer influence on romantic relationships and sexual behavior emerged as a key theme. 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. Romantic peers also motivated relationship and sexual behavior as youth described engaging in behavior to avoid hurting and successfully pleasing their partners. Future research should explore multiple types of peer influence in order to better inform interventions to improve the quality of adolescents’ romantic and sexual relationships.

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Notes

  1. Total is >100 % as youth could identify multiple racial/ethnic categories.

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Acknowledgments

ABS would like to acknowledge Kristin Luker and Ron Dahl for providing guidance on the conceptualization of this project and Sophia Zamudio-Haas for conducting an interview. Both authors would like to acknowledge the input of the reviewers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Community Health and Human Development, University of California Berkeley, 50 University Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7360, USA

    Ahna Ballonoff Suleiman

  2. School of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health Program, University of California Berkeley, 50 University Hall, Berkeley, CA, 94720-7360, USA

    Julianna Deardorff

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  1. Ahna Ballonoff Suleiman
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  2. Julianna Deardorff
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Correspondence to Ahna Ballonoff Suleiman.

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Suleiman, A.B., Deardorff, J. Multiple Dimensions of Peer Influence in Adolescent Romantic and Sexual Relationships: A Descriptive, Qualitative Perspective. Arch Sex Behav 44, 765–775 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0394-z

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