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Midlife adults who have divorced or never married represent a growing demographic in North America. Despite this fact, little research has examined the dating and sexual behaviours of these individuals. Research has instead focused on the dating and sexual lives of young adults, particularly undergraduate students. The current research program examined young (aged 18-24 years) and midlife (aged 35-54 years) single (or recently single) heterosexual North American adults’ typical first date scripts and their retrospective perceptions of their first date experiences. More specifically, Study 1 examined young and midlife adults’ typical first date scripts. Participants were asked to list at least 20 actions that a woman would typically perform on a first date with someone new, from the beginning of the date to its end, putting the actions in the order in which they would occur. Participants were then instructed to carry out the task a second time, focusing on the actions that a man would typically perform on a first date with someone new. Study 2 examined young and midlife adults’ retrospective accounts of their actual first date scripts, as well as their actual first date sexual behaviour. Participants were asked to list at least 20 actions that they performed on their most recent first date, from the beginning of the date to its end, putting them in the order in which they occurred. They were also asked to complete a revised Guttman scale of sexual behaviours, checking off from a list the behaviours that occurred on their most recent first date. Across both studies, analyses revealed three key patterns with respect to gender roles. First, contrary to expectations, young adults tended to be more traditional than midlife adults with respect to first dates. Second, midlife adult women tended to be less traditional than expected with respect to first dates. Lastly, in keeping with expectations, women were depicted as taking a passive role and men were depicted as taking a more active role in the scripts. Implications of the findings and recommendations for future research follow.

Note: / The present research examined incidents of social stress in the lives of young adults. The goal was to determine the role that friendships might play when young adults engage in social support and conflict resolution to deal with such stress. Three studies examined young adults' friendships in terms of how they fulfill various functions or provide interpersonal resources. Study 1 established that social stressors were common, that a variety of stressful transactions with peers were upsetting to young adults, and that young adults tended to use more approach than avoidance coping. Effective coping in response to social stress was related to perceptions of support from a friend, particularly if young adults felt that their friend was an enjoyable companion and was reliable.[...] / La présente étude examinait la fréquence de stress social dans la vie de jeunes adultes. Le but était de déterminer le rôle que peut jouer l'amitié lorsque de jeunes adultes sont en situation de soutien social ou de résolution de conflits pour faire face a ces stress. Trois études examinent comment les amitiés de jeunes adultes remplissent différentes fonctions ou apportent du soutien interpersonnel. Étude 1 établie la fréquence de stress social, que plusieurs transactions stressantes avec leurs paires étaient bouleversantes pour les jeunes adultes, et que les jeunes adultes avaient plutôt tendances a utiliser des techniques d'approche que d'évitement afin de résoudre ces stress. L'utilité de stratégies de négociation efficaces étaient associées a la perception de soutien d'une amie, surtout si les jeunes adultes croyaient que leur amie était une campagne plaisante et fiable.[...]

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Includes bibliographic references (p.38-41).

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Montana, 2008. / Title from author supplied metadata. Description based on contents viewed on June 26, 2009. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 168-178).

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Teachers College, Columbia University. / Typescript; issued also on microfilm. Sponsor: Ann Lieberman. Dissertation Committee: Douglas M. Sloan. Bibliography: leaves 203-216.

Thesis (M.A.)--Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1994. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-98).

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, Ill., 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-53).

Thesis (Psy. D.)--Wheaton College Graduate School, Wheaton, Ill., 2001. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 48-53).