Beliefs about Romance and Mate Selection and Intentions to Seek Pre- or Post-Marital Counseling: a Latent Profile Analysis of Emerging Adults. Issue 1 (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Reed-Fitzke, Kayla; Lucier-Greer, Mallory; Gamboni, Casey M.; Rivera, Peter M.; Ferraro, Anthony J.
• Is Part Of: Marriage & family review. Volume 56:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 90
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: emerging adults -- relationship beliefs -- attitudes -- mate selection -- marital counseling; Family -- United States -- Periodicals; Marriage -- United States -- Periodicals; 306.8
• DOI: 10.1080/01494929.2019.1635953
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-4929

Abstract

Abstract: Emerging adulthood is a developmental period in which many individuals begin the process of mate selection, yet a considerable number of emerging adults endorse unrealistic relationship beliefs and/or believe relationship myths. This study identified belief profiles, using latent profile analysis, among emerging adults ( N = 154) about romance and mate selection and examined the association between profiles and intentions to seek pre- and post-marital counseling. Profiles represent distinct groups of emerging adults based on relationship beliefs; they were identified as Realists, Apprehensive Realists, Romantics, and Ambivalent/Uncertain . While the Realists, Apprehensive Realists, and Romantics endorsed different relationship beliefs that may impact relationship dynamics, these groups held similar, favorable attitudes towards counseling. The Ambivalent/Uncertain profile, characterized as less intentional towards relationships, was least likely to seek counseling.