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Intimate relationship development during the transition to adulthood: Differences by social class
Author(s) -
Meier Ann,
Allen Gina
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
new directions for child and adolescent development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.628
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1534-8687
pISSN - 1520-3247
DOI - 10.1002/cd.207
Subject(s) - cohabitation , social class , psychology , developmental psychology , class (philosophy) , social psychology , young adult , social change , social relationship , sexual relationship , adolescent development , human sexuality , sociology , gender studies , political science , artificial intelligence , computer science , law
This article examines differences in young adults' intimate relationships by social class. Lower‐class adolescents are more likely to engage in intimate‐relationship practices such as cohabitation, early marriage, and sexual activity that may lead to further economic and educational deprivation. Such adolescents have limited access to the special opportunities of emerging adulthood. Social class indirectly shapes the relationships of groups such as prisoners, military personnel, and sexual minorities whose memberships are highly class graded and who are subject to state‐controlled relationship constraints. More research is needed on how laws and institutions constrain even the most intimate features of young lives.