Survey 1 - Results

The aim was to examine the associations between romantic relationship styles, personal development and well being among adolescents and young adults in two countries.

We surveyed 273 Hong Kong Chinese and 187 Anglo-Australian young people currently involved in tertiary education in their respective countries. They were aged between 18 and 26 years. We asked them about their romantic relationships, their feelings, emotions, and the ways they preferred to relate to others.

We found:

• Romantic relationships are normal for this age group: Most of the young people (80%) had been in a romantic relationship at least once. Of these, 57% were currently in a romantic relationship; 10% were dating but not romantically involved, 10% were interested in someone but not yet dating that person, and 23% were currently not dating nor in a romantic relationship.
• Who loves the most? It varies: Most (58%) said they and their partner were equally loving; the rest thought the relationship was one-sided. 27% thought their partner was/had been more in love and 15% believed they were more in love than their partner.
• Relationship break-ups are common: Of those who had ever been in a romantic relationship, most 78%, had experienced a relationship break-up at least once. For just over 16%, this break up was recent.
• Break-ups are hurtful: Break-ups were initiated by the young person (44%), their partner (33%) or by mutual agreement (23%). As a result of the break up, most young people felt very (41%) or moderately hurt (44%). Only 15% said they were not affected.
• What makes a break-up harder to cope with? Not surprisingly it's harder if your partner breaks it off, but it's also more difficult for people with a 'clingy' relationship style (those who are very dependent non their partner and often seeking greater closeness). People who are more independent in their relationship style cope better, as do those with the capacity to engage in distracting activities. Young people who are more sure about their own identity - who they are and where they're going - also cope better.
• Hong Kong Chinese and Anglo-Australian young people were very similar in their responses to romantic relationships and relationship break-ups.