The development of intimate relationships in late adolescence.

TLDR

Adolescence is a period of expanding social relationships and developing capacity for intimacy, yet research on intimacy development remains limited. The paper proposes relationship maturity as a unifying framework to understand intimate involvements as a major developmental process. The authors review empirical literature on intimacy contexts, gender, identity interplay, and social influences to illustrate the framework.

Abstract

Adolescence is a time of burgeoning social relationships. Further, adolescents begin to develop the capacity to be intimate. Yet, little attention has been paid to the development of intimacy in adolescence. In this paper, relationship maturity, a developmental conception of intimacy, is presented as a unifying conceptual framework for understanding these intimate involvements as part of a major developmental process. Relevant empirical literature is reviewed. Issues addressed include: specific contexts of intimacy in adolescence, the role of gender in intimacy development, the interplay of identity and intimacy development, and the effects of social issues on this process.