Lk. Sippola, Getting to know the "other": The characteristics and developmental significance of other-sex relationships in adolescence, J YOUTH ADO, 28(4), 1999, pp. 407-418
Previous research has provided descriptions of the changes occurring in the
adolescent social network, particularly as these changes relate to the ons
et of heterosocial relationships. However questions regarding the character
istics that distinguish among the various types of other-sex relationships
and regarding the function of these various relationships for adolescent so
cial and emotional development remain to be examined. In this article, poss
ible functions of and challenges associated with the onset of other-sex rel
ationships are explored. In addition, methodological challenges associated
with studying other-sex relationships during adolescence are described.