Posted on 09/10/2019 8:07:11 PM PDT by huldah1776
With all of the social and personal turmoil that develops during the teenage years, a new study finds teens who hold off on dating have better social skills, are happier, and are less depressed.
This finding goes against American culture in terms of every movie or television show that portrays teenagers in high school.
Some believe that dating is just a part of being a teenager. Forming a romantic relationship for the first time can help in a teenager's own self-esteem.
Researchers at the University of Georgia say that's true, but they've also found that not dating could be even more beneficial for teenagers.
In their study published online in The Journal of School Health, the research team found that teens who had not dated during middle or high school displayed good social skills, low levels of depression, and were generally on the same par with their classmates who were dating.
"The majority of teens have had some type of romantic experience by 15 to 17 years of age, or middle adolescence," explains doctoral student and the study's lead author Brooke Douglas in a press release. "This high frequency has led some researchers to suggest that dating during the teenage years is normative behavior. That is, adolescents who have a romantic relationship are therefore considered 'on time' in their psychological development."
If dating was considered normal and essential for a teen's individual development and well-being, Douglas began to wonder what this suggested about adolescents who chose not to date.
"Does this mean that teens that don't date are maladjusted in some way? That they are social misfits? Few studies had examined the characteristics of youth who do not date during the teenage years, and we decided we wanted to learn more," she said.
During the research period of seven years, the team noted non-dating 10th grade students had similar or better interpersonal skills than their more frequently dating peers. While the scores of self-reported positive relationships with friends, at home, and at school did not differ between dating and non-dating peers, teachers rated the non-dating students significantly higher for social skills and leadership skills than their dating peers.
Students who didn't date were also less likely to be depressed. Teachers' scores on the depression scale were significantly lower for the group that reported no dating. Additionally, the proportion of students who self-reported being sad or hopeless was significantly lower within this group as well.
"In summary, we found that non-dating students are doing well and are simply following a different and healthy developmental trajectory than their dating peers," said study co-author Pamela Orpinas, a GU professor of health promotion and behavior.
"While the study refutes the notion of non-daters as social misfits, it also calls for health promotion interventions at schools and elsewhere to include non-dating as an option for normal, healthy development," said Douglas.
"As public health professionals, we can do a better job of affirming that adolescents do have the individual freedom to choose whether they want to date or not and that either option is acceptable and healthy," she said.
Not buying it...
Me either AND “dating in middle school” is silly and NOT good!
We’re talking about 11 -13 year olds, who really can’t “date” in the true meaning of that word!
I don’t think it’s a fair blanket statement to say that all teenagers who don’t date have good social skills and are less depressed. I completely believe that there is a group of teenagers that have great social skills and lead happy lives because they avoid toxic superficial high school relationships. But there are also well adjusted kids who marry their high school sweetheart without a hitch and live happily ever after. Kind of a bogus study because it doesn’t help us that much.
Dating would interfere with their gaming time.
No action AT ALL! :)
I would have passed!
I am sure I hear a political agenda grinding away in the background.
Looking back 40-plus years, that described me to within an inch of my life.
Straight-A student, even if I had to overachieve to get there.
Close to my parents, especially my father, who was a stern but kind disciplinarian and the most basically decent person I have known.
Well regarded by my teachers and grown ups in general, who generally thought I was mature for my age.
Not exactly “popular” with classmates but not without friends either.
Couldn’t get a date to save my life. And this from a guy 6-1, on the husky side but not obese.
I think it was that straight-A student thing. Chicks hate intelligence — that’s why they gladly give themselves to losers who mistreat them.
this is the human population crowd, if no one dates it won’t lead to other things which increase the population.
Our Eagle Scout 19 year old son points to his 1988 Toyota MR2 that he is restoring when his little sister asks why he doesn’t want to have a girlfriend, and he responds “that’s all the drama I need, parked right there.”
... stronger right arm.
In some of the annulment cases I have seen, where people discuss their dating history as part of the annullment petitione, there are people who get a sweetheart and then all their other friends and activities go out the window. Usually one kid is really dependent on the other for companionship, and the other feels kind of trapped but rolls with it. Boys can be very possessive, especially if they don’t have a strong family encouraging their overall development.
You are 20 years younger than me. (Wow, hurts to say that) No way would I have avoided an A student, was one myself. During high school I ate lunches alone mostly. No guys at my school were interested in girls with brains (that, and they looked like boys). That being said I was dating at 15, just not from my school.
My church teaches that kids should not date untill they are 16. Group activities, friendships, having fun are good, but one on one dating should wait.
Boys or girls? I don’t see mention of which.
No going steady
Long term dating in high school
Is stupid
This after mass shootings by lonely loser boys who can’t get dates. Hmmm. What’s the Ministry of Truth trying to spin? Highly suspicious.
Didn’t you like smart girls? Not many of them like dumb guys.
Actually, that’s not my experience at all.
They ALL go for the muscular bod — and the muscular brain. Macho, dumb, and stupid usually wins.
Of course, I’m an old man now — well, late middle age — so it hardly matters any more. I’m just one of the last old-fashioned bachelors — i.e. not a sodomite, just never could find anyone.
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