This qualitative study examined the experiences of 14 LGBTQ+ college students in healthy intimate relationships with a focus on the ways that romantic partners give and receive affection. Framed through a consideration of "love languages," this study challenges and extends what have become socially normative strategies for demonstrating…

Many college students engage in harmful levels of marijuana use, which is associated with negative consequences, including poor academic achievement and failing to reach developmental milestones (Johnston et al., 2016; Schulenberg et al., 2005). The relationship between personal goals and substance use is complex. Understanding the perceived…

We examined the preliminary effectiveness of a novel intervention to reduce disclosure recipients' negative social reactions (SR) and increase positive SR to a sexual assault (SA) and/or intimate partner violence (IPV) disclosure. Surveys were completed by 43 college students before and immediately after participating in a 2-hour intervention.…

In this grounded theory study I examined asexual college students' identity development within collegiate environments. Asexual students' experiences provided the emergent pathways for understanding their processes of identifying within the asexual spectrum. The resulting theory was constructed from and rooted in asexual students' stories and…

We examined the occurrence of stalking victimization among female and male undergraduate students attending three urban colleges. Specifically, we explored the proportion of students who experienced only stalking victimization and the relationship to the perpetrator identified by victims of stalking. Our findings suggest that stalking…

For this study we examined the association between relationship satisfaction and readiness-to-change alcohol use, as well as the associations between hazardous drinking and readiness-to-change relationship issues in college dating relationships. A sample of 219 college students in a current dating relationship (aged 18-25) completed self-report…

This study assessed female college students' ("N" = 197) participation in dating, romantic relationships, hooking up behaviors, and the intersection of these activities. Hooking up was prevalent among students ("n" = 78; 39.6%), but dating ("n" = 139; 70.6%) and romantic relationship ("n" = 147; 74.6%)…

For this study we explored relational aggression and victimization in a college sample (N = 307), examining potential gender and race differences, correlates, and the link between relational aggression and common emotional and behavioral problems, independent of relational victimization. Gender and race differences were observed on relational…

This inquiry describes the role of mentoring for undergraduate women survivors of trauma. It employed a comparative case approach. Interviews elicited stories from participants reflecting the role mentors have played in their life course and educational experiences. Four major themes emerged: Fantasy mentors, mentor as mirror, mentor as nurturer…

The impact of returning from studying abroad was surveyed in 669 college students. Students who studied abroad scored significantly higher on a Reentry Shock scale, reflecting skepticism toward U.S. culture, than those who did not. They were also more likely to consume alcohol. Study abroad had no detectable influence on students' romantic…

Prior nonmarital breakup research has been focused on negative outcomes, rarely examining the personal growth aspects of this experience. In this study, we used a qualitative grounded theory methodology to explore the changes that university students reported experiencing as a result of a heterosexual nonmarital breakup and how those changes…

Examined extent to which developmental theories of Erikson, Chickering, and Gilligan explain sex differences in autonomy and intimacy development in college students. Results from 441 college students suggest that both Gilligan's and Chickering's theories contribute to understanding of autonomy and intimacy development. Intimacy was strongest…

Examined associations between levels of satisfaction and intimacy in, and longevity of, dating relationships involving first-year college students and their back-home partners. Findings from 89 students revealed that satisfaction was effective predictor of relationship stability for both sexes. Other components of men's and women's respective…

Examined patterns of psychosocial development for white and African-American traditional-age undergraduate female college students (n=218). Differences were found by class level in measures of autonomy with seniors scoring higher than other classes and mature interpersonal relationship scores indicating a gradual increase. In a measurement of…

Study of college women (n=131) at midwestern university found significant effects of an unwanted childhood sexual experience on subsequent psychosocial tasks of intimacy and career planning. In addition, victims of incestuous, adult perpetrators, who encountered experiences of greater severity, reported greatest number of negative developmental…