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Nonverification of the Attractiveness Identity from Adolescent Dating Partners on Mastery, Anxiety, and Apprehension

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Advancing Identity Theory, Measurement, and Research

Part of the book series: Frontiers in Sociology and Social Research ((FSSR,volume 10))

Abstract

We examine how nonverification of the attractiveness person identity in adolescence relates to feelings of mastery, anxiety, and apprehension towards a romantic partner in early adulthood. Drawing on three waves of data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS) (N = 607), we analyzed discrepancies between perceived appraisals from romantic partners and respondents’ self-appraisals of relative attractiveness. Results support the identity theory hypothesis that nonverification from romantic partners is associated with emotional distress: we find lower mastery and higher anxiety after nonverification. We find no association with apprehension, which we discuss in terms of identity theory. These findings advance research on identity and emotions in the context of adolescent and early adult romantic partnerships, a complex and unique period for interpersonal evaluations and identity processes.

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Acknowledgement

This research received support from The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD036223 and HD044206), the Department of Health and Human Services (5APRPA006009), the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U. S. Department of Justice (Award Nos. 2009-IJ-CX-0503 and 2010-MU-MU-0031), and in part by the Center for Family and Demographic Research, Bowling Green State University, which has core funding from The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P2CHD050959). The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, or Department of Justice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH, USA

    Eric E. Sevareid, Monica A. Longmore, Peggy C. Giordano & Wendy D. Manning

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  1. Eric E. Sevareid
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  2. Monica A. Longmore
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  3. Peggy C. Giordano
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  4. Wendy D. Manning
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Correspondence to Eric E. Sevareid .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Social Psychology Research Laboratory, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA

    Jan E. Stets

  2. Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Ashley V. Reichelmann

  3. Department of Sociology, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA

    K Jill Kiecolt

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Sevareid, E.E., Longmore, M.A., Giordano, P.C., Manning, W.D. (2023). Nonverification of the Attractiveness Identity from Adolescent Dating Partners on Mastery, Anxiety, and Apprehension. In: Stets, J.E., Reichelmann, A.V., Kiecolt, K.J. (eds) Advancing Identity Theory, Measurement, and Research. Frontiers in Sociology and Social Research, vol 10. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32986-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32986-9_7

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