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Relationships: Promoting Healthy Relationships During Adolescence

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Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion

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Introduction

The couple or romantic bond is one of the strongest threads in the social fabric supporting healthy adult functioning and well-being. Unfortunately, couple bonds are both volatile and fragile. Ignoring the health of couple relationships represents a significant cost to communities and society. Since more than 80 % of first romantic relationships occur in adolescence (Collins, Welsh, & Furman, 2009), researchers increasingly are turning to this period of the life course to examine the roots of maladaptive relational dynamics and to promote attitudes, skills, competencies, and experiences that contribute to positive individual development and healthy relationships. This entry describes the theoretical and research background on romantic relationships and then discusses the current status and effectiveness of programs designed to promote healthy relationships in adolescence.

Definitions and Scope

To be inclusive with respect to diversity in the types of long-term couple...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Development and Family Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Nancy Nicholas Hall, 1300 Linden Drive, Madison, 53706, WI, USA

    Linda J. Roberts & Abra Vigna

Authors
  1. Linda J. Roberts
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  2. Abra Vigna
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Correspondence to Linda J. Roberts .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Child & Family Agency of Southeastern Connecticut, New London, CT, USA

    Thomas P. Gullotta

  2. University of Connecticut, West Hartford, USA

    Martin Bloom

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Roberts, L.J., Vigna, A. (2014). Relationships: Promoting Healthy Relationships During Adolescence. In: Gullotta, T.P., Bloom, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5999-6_206

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5999-6_206

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