Middle adolescents' dating pathways and psychosocial adjustment

Interrelationships were studied between dating patterns (i.e., steady relat ionship, casual dating with multiple partners, single casual partner, or no dating) and trajectories of psychosocial functioning over a 1-year interva l in a sample of 701 middle adolescents. Increasing involvement in casual d ating was associated with rising trajectories of problem behaviors and impr ovements in the quality of close friendships. Pathways culminating in stead y relationships were accompanied by increasing friendship discord and decli ning problem behaviors and emotional distress. Differences in psychosocial functioning also were evident prior to diverging transitions in dating patt erns. Results are discussed within an ecological framework that conceptuali zes dating as a key component of renegotiating ties with the peer subcultur e and societal norms.