Why do young people engage in dating relationships during early adolescence? An inter-generational qualitative analysis from Blantyre, Malawi
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15099148 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Annie D Smith (0000-0002-6141-9193, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA, corresponding author), Effie Chipeta (0000-0002-7925-3443, University of Malawi), William Stones (0000-0003-0699-2381, University of Malawi), Kristin Mmari (0000-0003-3087-7105, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue | 6 |
| Pages | 842-855 |
| Publication date | 2022-06-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Culture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13691058.2021.1889672 |
| PMID | 33750271 |
| OpenAlex | W3137041368 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 44 |
Engagement in dating relationships plays an important role in the health trajectories of young people, particularly during the early adolescent period between ages 10-14. Yet little is known about such relationships among youth in low resource contexts. This study sought to contribute to the literature on this topic by exploring reasons why school-going young people aged 12-14 years engage in dating relationships in Blantyre, Malawi. A thematic analysis was used to code and analyse in-depth interview data from 23 young people and 19 caregivers. Against the backdrop of growing sexual desires and feelings of attraction, participants stressed harassment from boys and coercion from older men, peer pressure, social status attainment, financial deprivation and encouragement during initiation ceremonies as reasons for engaging in dating relationships. Girls were found to be subject to multiple power dynamics-including gender power relations, as well as power dynamics within same-gender peer groups-that influenced their sex and relationship involvement. These findings carry implications for the design and timing of sexual and reproductive health youth programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa and emphasise the need for multi-level interventions to address the multiple influences in young people's dating lives
Developmental psychology · Qualitative analysis · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Family Dynamics and Relationships · Gender Studies · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Psychology
Applied Thematic Analysis
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Attachments beyond infancy
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| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,5 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2024 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |