Investigating Relational Skills in Emerging Young Adults From a Gender Perspective: A Qualitative Study

This study explores relational skills among young adults within a gender-based analytical framework. Gender norms remain deeply embedded in the socialization process, despite being widely debated in the current social context. Five focus groups were conducted with 30 participants aged 18 to 25 (20 cisgender women, 10 cisgender men). Thematic analysis identified three themes: (1) Relational blueprints and the gap between knowing and doing show exposure led participants to value dialogue, authenticity, and emotional openness as ideals of healthy relationships and raised awareness of gendered conditioning. However, awareness often did not undo ingrained habits, leaving tension between ideals and practice. (2) Gendered relational skills: between struggle and relational strength reveal that women reported fatigue from expectations to adapt and maintain harmony, while men described pressure to initiate and show confidence. At the same time, emotional life and vulnerability were increasingly valued as qualities to normalize, including for men. (3) Contexts that support or hinder skills highlight ambivalence in families and schools, which reproduce traditional norms yet promote egalitarian messages, close relationships were seen as safer spaces to practice skills less encouraged by gender norms, such as assertiveness and emotional openness. Overall, findings call for research on promoting more flexible relational models and stronger emotional regulation skills among young adults.