Romantic beliefs, styles, and relationships among young people from Chinese, Southern European, and Anglo-Australian backgrounds

In this study, the romantic beliefs, styles of relating, sex-role traits, a nd social self-efficacy of 433 young people from three cultural groups were assessed and their links with relationship status and loneliness explored. A majority cultural group (Anglo-Australians) was compared with two minori ty groups (Chinese- and Southern European-background young people) within t he same society. Chinese-background youth were less likely to be in a roman tic relationship and more likely to be lonely than Anglo-Australian or Sout hern EuropeanAustralians. Greater loneliness was associated with non-secure relationship styles, lower social self-efficacy, and lower scores on psych osocial femininity and masculinity. Predictors of relationship status inclu ded romantic attitudes and relationship styles. Some evidence pointed to st ronger social efficacy and more secure relationship styles being associated with greater acculturation but it was rather weak and inconsistent.