The development of healthy romantic relationships and sexuality is a lifelong process that begins with romantic feelings and sexual experimentation early in life. During adolescence and young adulthood, individuals explore these aspects of their lives, and social contexts and interpersonal relationships with parents, peers, and partners play a significant role in shaping their experiences. This special issue aims to advance our understanding of how romantic relationships and sexuality develop in the context of these social domains.

How have perspectives in the field changed?

In the past, romantic relationships and sexual activities of youth were often seen as risky behaviors associated with negative outcomes. However, there has been a shift in perspective towards viewing these experiences as normative tasks in adolescent development. Research has shown that early romantic relationships and sexual activity are prevalent among teenagers in Western countries, indicating their expected behavior patterns.

This change in perspective has led to a focus on understanding how most adolescents develop their romantic relationships and sexuality in a normative way, rather than solely identifying factors that prevent involvement in such relationships. This shift has also allowed for the identification of truly risky versus normative developmental trajectories, leading to a better understanding of young people's educational and healthcare needs.

Furthermore, the ecological perspective highlights the importance of socio-contextual factors in shaping adolescent behaviors and relationships. Research has demonstrated the significant role of parents, peers, and partners in influencing romantic relationships and sexual development. Attachment theory suggests that adolescents' relationships with their parents influence their later relationships with romantic partners. Friendships also play a crucial role in developing skills and expectations for romantic relationships. Additionally, characteristics of romantic partners themselves, such as personality traits and self-esteem, contribute to the quality of adolescents' romantic relationships.

In terms of sexual development, a positive and supportive relationship with parents has been found to be protective and associated with delayed initiation of sexual behavior and safer sexual practices. Peers' sexual norms, especially descriptive norms, have been shown to influence adolescents' own sexual activity. The role of romantic partners in adolescents' sexual behaviors is still an area that requires further research.

Overall, this shift towards a normative perspective and recognition of the importance of social contexts has expanded our understanding of adolescent romantic relationships and sexual development, and has implications for effective education programs and healthcare interventions.

What are the strengths of previous studies in the field?

Previous studies have several strengths that contribute to the literature on romantic and sexual development during adolescence and young adulthood within the social contexts of relationships with parents, peers, and partners.

One significant strength is the advancement of a developmental perspective. These studies cover major developmental stages, from early adolescence to young adulthood, and examine how romantic relationships and sexual behaviors evolve over time. They also investigate the role of age in shaping the influence of socio-contextual factors, revealing that peer approval becomes less important as individuals transition from adolescence to young adulthood.

Another strength is the advancement of an ecological perspective. The studies explore multiple social contexts simultaneously and examine interactions between parents, peers, and partners. By considering how these different relationships interact and influence young people's romantic and sexual experiences, they provide a more comprehensive understanding of the processes involved.

The studies also employ state-of-the-art research methods. Some studies utilize longitudinal designs, allowing researchers to investigate developmental processes over time. Others use innovative techniques such as online questionnaires, daily diary assessments, and observations of dyadic interactions. These methods enhance the accuracy and depth of data collection, particularly for sensitive topics like romantic relationships and sexuality.

Furthermore, the studies adopt a broad conceptualization of sexuality. Rather than focusing solely on heterosexual intercourse, they encompass a range of sexual behaviors and also consider cognitive and emotional aspects of young people's sexuality. This broader approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of emerging sexual activity and the factors influencing it.

Overall, the studies presented in this special issue contribute valuable insights into the developmental and contextual factors shaping romantic and sexual experiences during adolescence and young adulthood. Their strengths lie in their developmental and ecological perspectives, utilization of state-of-the-art research methods, and broad conceptualization of sexuality.

What directions should be followed in future research?

First, there is a need to shift the focus from viewing romantic relationships and sexual behaviors as inherently risky to recognizing their positive aspects. Researchers have started exploring the positive outcomes associated with young people's romantic relationships and sexuality, such as happiness, self-worth, social competence, and support. Further investigation is required to understand how socio-contextual factors contribute to these positive outcomes.

Second, there is a need to consider bidirectional relationships between individuals and contexts. While longitudinal research designs have been employed to understand how social contexts influence romantic and sexual development over time, most studies focus on unidirectional socialization processes. It is essential to recognize that young people not only influenced by social contexts but also select and affect their social environment. Exploring bidirectional relations between social contexts and romantic and sexual development through longitudinal research is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of these processes.

Third, there is a need for more cross-country comparison studies. The majority of existing research on young people's romantic relationships and sexuality has focused on Western developed countries, neglecting the experiences of adolescents from diverse cultural contexts in the "majority world" (for example Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean). Given the cultural variations in norms and values related to romantic relationships and sexuality, it is important to conduct studies in these understudied regions to broaden our understanding.

Lastly, there is a need to bridge the gap between research on romantic relationships and sexuality. Currently, these two fields tend to be studied independently, despite the fact that romantic relationships often serve as the context for adolescents' sexual behaviors. More research is needed to explore how characteristics of romantic relationships or partners are associated with young people's sexual behaviors and their evaluations. Integrating the study of romantic relationships and sexuality will advance both fields of research.