Insights into Young Adults’ Views on Long-term and Short-term Romantic Relationships in the United Kingdom

Mengzhen, L. and Berezina, E. and Benjamin, J. (2024) Insights into Young Adults’ Views on Long-term and Short-term Romantic Relationships in the United Kingdom. Sexuality and Culture, 28 (4). pp. 1407-1423. ISSN 1095-5143

Abstract

Social progressions such as the feminist movement and technological advances may have influenced the way young adults perceive romantic relationships. Although long-term relationships are traditionally viewed favorably in society, short-term relationships are becoming more popular in recent years. It’s important to understand the common perceptions of romance among young adults because it affects their partner choices and expectations. While experts can define the concepts of long-term and short-term relationships, we believe the most reliable method is to ask young adults directly. Therefore, we collected data from 229 self-reported British nationals aged between 18 and 33 (M = 19.66; SD = 2.72) to understand their perceptions of long-term and short-term romantic relationships. We asked them to write down the words or phrases that come to mind when they think of these concepts. Using the structural approach of the theory of social representation, we analyzed the values and norms of young British adults regarding these concepts. Based on our study, we observed four important things. Firstly, short-term relationships (STRs) are associated with “fun”, “excitement”, and “passion”, while long-term relationships (LTRs) are associated with “love”, “commitment”, “trust”, and “loyalty”. Secondly, while sex is important in romantic relationships, it’s only a peripheral component of STRs and not a significant factor in LTRs. Thirdly, both those in relationships and single individuals agree that “fling” and “passion” are primary aspects of STRs, but those in relationships tend to use the term “fun,“ while single individuals use “exciting” to describe STRs. Lastly, “love”, “trust”, and “commitment” are essential elements in LTRs for both single individuals and those in relationship. However, individuals in relationships also value loyalty as a critical aspect of romantic relationships.