Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

LOVE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS

1999; Project Innovation Austin; Volume: 33; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

2691-3887

David Knox, Caroline Schacht, Marty E. Zusman,

Reproductive Health and Technologies

Data from one-hundred-eighty-four undergraduates at a large southeastern university revealed that 94% have experienced a relationship. Young (age 19 and under) undergraduates were significantly (p [is less than] .03) more likely to believe in at first sight and conquers than older (age 20 and older) undergraduates. Current involvement in a relationship was also significantly associated (p [is less than] .01) with the romantic belief that conquers Family life educators and therapists might be aware that age and relationship experience may impact romantic beliefs. is the sweetest thing, what else on earth could ever bring Such happiness to everything, as love's old story? are the lyrics to an old song Love's Story to You. Popular music (All Need Is What's Love Got to do with It?), movies (Titanic, Bridges of Madison County), and television dramas (Dawson's Creek) continue to emphasize the importance of relationships in one's life. This study focused on romantic beliefs among a sample of college students. Data Data were obtained by questionnaire from 184 undergraduates at East Carolina University enrolled in two Courtship and Marriage classes. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents were women; 32% men. Seventy-four percent of the respondents were freshman or sophomores; 26% were juniors and seniors. The median age was 19. Findings Love was a common experience among these respondents. Ninety-four percent reported that they had been in before with over a third (36%) reporting 3 or more relationships. While the median number of relationships was 2, over ten percent reported five or more partners. Experiencing the end of a relationship was also a common experience among these respondents. Eighty-four percent reported that they had ended one or more relationships. Sixty-two percent reported that they had experienced the termination of a relationship by their partner. No significant differences in sex or age of respondent were found for being in or experiencing the end of a relationship. Romantic beliefs of the respondents were also explored. One romantic belief about is at first sight. Younger respondents (those 19 and under) were significantly (p [is less than] .03) were more likely than older respondents (those 20 or older) to believe that You can fall in the first time you see someone. Indeed, over half (54%) of the younger group, verses about a third (36%) of the older group believed in instant love. Another romantic belief is that conquers all. Again, younger students were significantly (p [is less than] .02) more likely than older students to agree that All problems can be solved if there is enough love. The percentages were 61% versus 43%, respectively, of the younger and older respondents who believed that conquers all. Analysis of the data also revealed that one's relationship status is associated with one's belief in the power of to solve all problems. Respondents who were currently involved in a relationship were significantly (p [is less than] .01) more likely to agree that conquers than those who were not involved in a relationship. Sixty-two percent of those who were currently involved in a relationship agreed that All problems can be solved if there is enough love in contrast to 42% who were not currently involved in a relationship. No significant differences between women and men were observed in regard to believing in at first sight and conquers all. Discussion These data confirm, update, and extend the literature on and intimate relationships. Previous researchers have documented the universal importance of in relationships. Jankowiak and Fischer (1992) conducted a study of romantic cross-culturally and found that 89% of the 166 societies they studied had evidence of passionate (love songs in the culture, elopement due to mutual affection, etc. …