Citation

Daddis C, Randolph D. J. Adolesc. 2010; 33(2): 309-320.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.adolescence.2009.05.002

PMID

19505718

Abstract

Voluntary disclosure regarding romantic involvement was examined in a sample of 222 middle and late adolescents (124 female adolescents, M=16.19 years). Disclosure was described with three empirically derived, conceptually meaningful composites that pertained to identity/choice of romantic partner, everyday expression of romantic relationship, and parental supervision/sexual contact. Disclosure regarding identity/choice and expression was greater for females than for males and mothers were targets more than were fathers. Older adolescents disclosed less regarding supervision/sex than did younger adolescents. Trust was positively associated with disclosure, particularly for females when considering supervision issues. Assessment of adolescents' beliefs regarding act's potential for self-harm and consequences to others illuminated adolescents' reasoning regarding disclosure and nondisclosure. Potential harm was positively associated with disclosure regarding supervision/sex issues. The potential for an activity to affect other people was positively associated with disclosure regarding identity/choice and expression for middle adolescents but not for late adolescents.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior; Analysis of Variance; Cognition; Courtship; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Ohio; Parent-Child Relations; Personal Autonomy; Schools; Self Disclosure; Sex Distribution; Surveys and Questionnaires; Trust; Truth Disclosure