Romantic

Relationship
 Why is this a challenge?
• Poor communication or lack of communication
• Trust
• Differences in sexual drives and desires
• Jealousy and insecurity
• Money
• Home responsibilities or chores
• Change in priorities
• Time
• Partners Drifts away
• Space and individual growth
• Falling out of love
 What is romantic relationship all
about?
• “Young people spend a great
deal of time thinking about,
TEENS & ROMANCE talking about, and being in
Dating Not Dating romantic relationships” –
Sarah Sorensen
• are important to developing
50% 50%
the capacity for long-term,
committed relationships in
Serious Not Serious
adulthood.

33%

67%
 How will you overcome the challenges of
romantic relationships?

Characterize healthy adolescent Healthy relationships help

romantic relationships
• open communication
• high levels of trust
• partners who are
relatively close in
age
• youth refine their
sense of identity
• develop
interpersonal skills
• provide emotional
support.
Identity.
• One of the key developmental
tasks of adolescence is forming a
sense of identity.
• Young people are in the process
of refining their personal values
and determining future goals.
• Just like relationships with
family and friends, romantic
relationships can facilitate the
process of youth gaining a
greater understanding of who
they are and what they value.
Interpersonal Skills
• can also provide a training ground
for youth to develop interpersonal
skills.
• Adolescent romantic relationships
can help
– refine their communication and
negotiation skills
– develop empathy
– learn how to maintain intimate
relationships.
– develop emotional resiliency and
coping skills needed to handle
difficulties later in life
Emotional Support
• become more autonomous from
their parents
– romantic relationships
increasingly become a source of
emotional support
– only close friends provide more
support than romantic partners
• For sexual minority youth, their
romantic partners may be the only
people with whom they feel
comfortable (and safe) sharing
their thoughts and feelings about
their sexual identity
 How she or he avoids the romantic
relationship challenges?
• Do what you say and say what you mean
• Be consistent
• Be sensitive to your partners concerns and feelings
• Carry your fair share of the workload within the relationship
and home
• Never say mean or malicious things to hurt your partner’s
feelings, i.e., never say anything you cannot take back
• Don’t overreact when things go wrong.
• Do not ruminate on things you cannot change
• Don’t dig up old wounds
• Avoid talking about relationship problems when angry
• Do not lie or use misleading information
• Respect your partner’s boundaries
• Refrain from jealousy
• Communicate your feelings and issues appropriately
• Be an even better listener.
• Act fairly, even in an argument
Examples of Romantic relationships
based on real life.
 Source:

• http://www.actforyouth.net/resources/rf/rf_romantic_0707.p
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