Social Misfit or Normal Development? Students Who Do Not Date

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by the Journal of School Health.

OBJECTIVE

Prior research identified 4 distinct dating trajectories from 6th to 12th grade: Low, Increasing, High Middle, and Frequent. The purpose of this study was to examine whether 10th graders in the Low dating group differed on emotional, interpersonal, and adaptive skills from youth in the other trajectories.

METHODS

The sample consisted of 594 10th graders. Four dating groups were compared using teacher ratings (social skills, leadership, depression) and student self-reports (positive relationships with friends, at home, and at school; depression, suicidal ideation).

RESULTS

Students in the Low dating group had significantly higher teacher ratings of social skills and leadership and lower ratings of depression compared to the other groups. Self-reports of positive relationships did not differ by dating groups. Self-reported depression was significantly lower in the Low dating group, but suicidal ideations did not differ.

CONCLUSION

Adolescents who were not in a romantic relationship had good social skills and low depression and fared better or equal to peers who dated. These results refute the notion that non-daters are maladjusted. Health promotion interventions in schools should include non-dating as one option for healthy development.

Source: Journal of School Health
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/josh.12818