Beliefs about romantic relationships and sexual attitudes predicting romantic relationship experiences, intentions, and dating app use

Puklek Levpušček, Melita (author), Glavač, Timotej (author)

Background and Objectives: Recent studies have found changes in romantic relationship (RR) dynamics among emerging adults, such as greater postponement of committed RRs and greater search for new RRs online. In this study, we examined whether one's beliefs about RRs and sexual attitudes are significant predictors of current RR status (in a relationship or single), RR intention (low vs. high), dating app use, dating via a dating app, and number of RRs in one's lifetime. Methods: 440 Slovenian emerging adults participated in the study (319 female, Mage = 22.78). They answered The Brief Measure of Relationship Importance (BMRI), The Brief Sexual Attitudes Scale (BSAS), and some short questions about their RR status, RR intention, use of dating apps, and lifetime number of RRs. The study was conducted online. Results: Using logistic and linear regression analyses, we found that RR dismissal was a significant negative predictor of RR status, RR intention, and dating via a dating app, whereas RR desire did not significantly predict RR outcomes. Sexual permissiveness significantly predicted dating app use, dating via dating apps, and the number of romantic relationships in one's lifetime. Being female, living independently, and having a more instrumental sexual attitude positively predicted “in a relationship” status. Conclusion: Results suggest that certain beliefs about RR and sexual attitudes are related to intentions and decisions to engage in actual RR behaviour.

• Language: English
• Keywords: romantic relationships, attitudes, sexual attitudes, dating, online dating, emerging adulthood
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2023
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 10 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 16, art. 18743501268052
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-153417
• UDC: 159.922.8-053.81
• ISSN on article: 1874-3501
• DOI: 10.2174/0118743501268052231128111338
• COBISS.SI-ID: 179535875
• Publication date in RUL: 04.01.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: The open psychology journal
• Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers
• ISSN: 1874-3501
• COBISS.SI-ID: 518083097

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: partnerski odnosi, prepričanja, odnos do spolnosti, zmenki, spletni zmenki, prehod v odraslost

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P5-0062
• Name: Uporabna razvojna psihologija