Romantic Relationships in Japan
A Lens for Social Policy Recommendation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12466009 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Lim Mengzhen (0000-0002-7178-5648, University of Central Florida, corresponding author), Timothy Borsje (0009-0008-1950-909X, Meiji University), Dana Pangburn (0009-0005-6440-2118, Meiji University), Kaori Yoshida (0009-0008-5412-1082, Meiji University), Elizaveta Berezina (0000-0003-1972-8133, Sunway University), Jaime Benjamin (0000-0001-7187-4301, Lancaster University) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Pages | 2470-2489 |
| Publication date | 2025-06-05 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Sexuality & Culture (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1095-5143 • E-ISSN: 1936-4822 |
| Publisher | Springer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE) |
| DOI | 10.1007/s12119-025-10379-4 |
| OpenAlex | W4411062199 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 45 |
The current trends in mating show a concerning shift, with young people increasingly choosing singlehood over long-term commitment or starting families, which could lead to demographic challenges. However, addressing these problems requires understanding how people define relationships. This study explores the social representations of short-term and long-term romantic relationships to inform social policy. A survey of 112 participants (44.6% male, mean age 23.27) was conducted. As this is a qualitative research study, this sample size is sufficient to provide an exploration of the topic. The findings revealed that: (i) “love” is central to both relationship types, (ii) “sex” is more important in short-term relationships, (iii) short-term relationships emphasize “fun” and “passion,” while long-term ones prioritize “trust,” “marriage,” and “stability,” and (iv) “marriage” is universally valued, but “family” is less significant. Based on these findings, six social policies are proposed to improve relationship education, support diverse dynamics, and address gender disparities and economic stability within long-term relationships
Lens (geology · Optics · Physics · Political science · Psychoanalysis · Romance · Sociology · Through-the-lens metering · Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving · Psychology
Social Norms and Global Environmental Challenges
Gender stereotypes have changed
L'évocation de l'argent
Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology
Hybrid narrative in Yoshimoto Banana’s Kitchen
When a man sounds like a woman
Navigating Love in a Post-Pandemic World
Decline of Real Love and Rise of Virtual Love
Genders, Transgenders and Sexualities in Japan
The Transformation of Intimacy
Intimate Disconnections
Social threat, social reward, and regulation of investment in romantic relationships
The bumpy road to socialise nature
Social norms as communicative phenomena
Challenges in family policy research
Social networks and the maintenance of conformity
Insights into Young Adults’ Views on Long-term and Short-term Romantic Relationships in the United Kingdom
Gender‐role preference matters
Changes in Gender Stereotypes Over Time
Masculine and Feminine Traits on the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, 1993–2012
Relational identities of always-single Japanese women
Singlehood in contemporary Japan
Herbivorous Men, Carnivorous Women
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |