Adolescent romance: between experience and relationships

This concluding and integrative paper calls attention to several features a nd conceptual issues addressed by the contributors of this special issue. T he first issue pertains to developmental perspectives in the study of how a dolescent romance evolves. The second deals with the various features and c oncepts of adolescent romance. The third topic discusses the association of adolescent romance with other close relationships occurring during this ti me span. The fourth topic highlights the importance of the diversity of dev elopmental contexts in shaping romantic relationships. Finally, conceptual issues in the study of adolescent romance are reviewed and the need for fut ure studies of early adolescent romantic experiences is discussed. (C) 2001 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.