ABSTRACTRecent studies have examined the association of singular adolescent attitudes to particular age periods (Schnirer, 2001). We analyze the relationship between age disparity of partners in a dating relationship to noteworthy aspects of their functioning. Further, we scrutinize the extent of adolescent relationships along lines of varying degrees of age incongruity and diverse aspects of adolescent functioning. We are looking at the interaction connecting age disparity, depression, romantic appeal and self silencing. The data for this study was collected from 1792 adolescents who participated in Phase One of a NICHD-funded study, the Study of Tennessee Adolescent Romantic Relationships (STARR, 2000).

INTRODUCTIONAdolescents function higher while dating partners their own age (Kenrick, 1996)Adolescents display singular attitudes during particular age periods (Schnirer, 2001)This study will examine the relationship between age discrepancy in adolescent romantic relationships, depression, self silencing and romantic appeal

HYPOTHESESAdolescents who date age discrepant partners will experience higher levels of depression than those who date partners their own ageSelf-silencing scores will be higher in those adolescents who date age discrepant partnersFemales involved in an age discrepant relationship will display a significantly higher degree of romantic appeal than males involved in an age discrepant relationship

METHODSample was taken from a larger NICHD funded study of adolescentsSurveyed 9 – 12 grade adolescentsFrom 17 different rural, urban and suburban area high schoolsCollected data from 1792 studentsMeasures evaluate depressive symptoms, perception of romantic appeal and self-silencing

METHODAdolescents were divided into four categories for analysis:

same age dating partner1 year age discrepant dating partner2-5 year age discrepant dating partner 6+ year age discrepant dating partner

In addition sample was furcated into male and female respondents

MEASURESRomantic appeal is measured using the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (Harter, 1988)Self-silencing is scored by the Silencing the Self Scale (Jack & Dill, 1992)Depression is measured by the CES-D scale (Radloff, 1977)Participant and partner age are self reported

PARTICIPANTSAdolescents who completed the Harter questionnaire, CES-D questionnaire and answered the item:

How old is your current (or most recent) dating partner?

Racial breakdown was:87.4% White7.9% Black1.4% Asian1.1 % Hispanic.6% Native American1.6% Other

Grade breakdown was:32.3% 9th

16.9% 10th

25.6% 11th

25.2% 12th

TABLESTable 1 –

All Participants

Table 2 - Males

-----age discrepancy F Sig.

CES-D Score 5.157 .002

Romantic Appeal .365 .778

Table 3 - Females

-----age discrepancy F Sig.

CES-D Score 3.916 .009

Romantic Appeal 3.465 .016

-----age discrepancy F Sig.

CES-D Score 13.086 .000

Romantic Appeal 3.196 .023

CORRELATIONSAge Discrepancy

Age

Discrepancy

Romantic Appeal

Romantic

Appeal

CES-D

-.796** -.324**

NS NS

.524** NSCES-D

Females

Males

RESULTSAdolescents who date partners 2+ years older demonstrate higher levels of depressive symptomsThe relationship between self silencing and age discrepancy does not yield any significanceAdolescent males in any age discrepant relationship do not demonstrate significantly different romantic appeal than their female peers

Adolescent females in a relationship with age discrepant partners of 2 to 5 years have significantly higher perceptions of romantic appeal when compared to adolescents who date partners of the same age, 1 year difference or with a difference of 6 or more years

RESULTS

DISCUSSIONOur initial hypothesis was completely supported because adolescents who date age discrepant partners do experience higher levels of depression than those who are dating partners their own ageNo significance was found relating self-silencing to age incongruence in adolescent dating relationships. This is possibly due to the adolescents’ experience of previous dating relationships

DISCUSSIONFemales do experience higher perceptions of romantic appeal as compared to adolescent males who are involved in similar dating situations

In pursuing further study of adolescents involved in age incongruent relationships we hope to enlarge our area of focus to include the impact of the frequency of previous dating relationships to relationship violence, self-perception of competency and attitudes towards women

FUTURE RESEARCH