Risks, Vulnerabilities, and Desires for Future Romantic Relationships and Relationship Education During Early Adulthood

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore how vulnerabilities, stressors, and adaptive processes influenced early adults' (N = 1,073) future relational desires and topic preferences in relationship education (RE). Background: There is great diversity in pathways to relationship formation. Early adults are exposed to risk factors from their past and present relationship experiences that can influence their current and future relational functioning. Thus, there is an increasing need to provide individually relevant relationship education services to ultimately help early adults navigate these diverse relationship processes and transitions. To ensure relevant and successful programing, relationship educators need to consider early adults' future relational preferences and variations in early adults' interest in specific areas of RE content. Methods: Combining data from a nationally representative sample (N = 436) and a snowball sample (N = 637), we collected information on various risk factors for relationship distress early adults had observed or experienced, demographic information, and current relationship status to identify not only future relational desires but also interest in RE topics. Results: Results indicated that early adults are concurrently experiencing many risks that influence their future relational desires and interests in specific RE topics. Conclusion: We demonstrate how each risk factor independently influences an early adult's future relational desires and interest in RE topics, while also highlighting the cumulative effect of risk factors on these outcomes. Implications: Implications highlight tailoring functions within RE to increase interest and engagement and more precisely address specific participant stressors and vulnerabilities.