Emotional Expression: Implications for Dyadic Relationship Quality During Adolescence

Adolescence is a critical period for personal development in addition to the development and maintenance of relationships; it provides a context where individuals can socialize in different environments (Harris, 1995). For adolescents, both interpersonal and intrapersonal relationship dynamics can pose challenges to development. This includes varying degrees of mental health issues, aggressiveness, peer pressure, peer stress, and antisocial behaviors (Rose & Rudolph, 2006; Piehler & Dishion, 2007). If damaging behaviors persist in adolescents, the individual may not experience constructive growth and may instead endure persisting inhibitory trends to personal development (Rose & Rudolph, 2006). With the rapidly increasing rate of interactions and stimuli in the modern age, anyone - regardless of background - could be affected by these same issues. In particular, adolescents expose themselves to a multitude of harmful factors as they engage in new, eclectic behaviors within most relationships (Smetana et al., 2006). Issues within relationships and barriers between adolescents may be resolved by certain constructs if research can identify problems that hinder and prescribe processes that aid individuals during this critical developmental period.