The dynamics of adolescent couple relationships in the face of social constraints caused by the COVID-19 pandemic

The aim of the study is exploration of the structure and dynamics of the conditions shaping close relationships formed and maintained by adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic period. The research questions:
1. What is the structure of the relationship between demographic characteristics and the characteristics of Internet usage patterns during the pandemic?
2. What is the structure of the relationship between demographic characteristics and the characteristics of emotional engagement during the pandemic?
3. What is the structure of the relationship between demographic characteristics and the sense of closeness during the pandemic?
Targeted population was the late adolescents lived in Italy, Netherland, Poland and Spain and who currently have a partner or had one in the past.
The 691 participants (379 women, 304 men and 8 non-binary people) aged approximately 21 years and declaring a similar age of their partners were selected to the study
The research encompassed the assessment of demographic factor as gender, nationality, religion, religious commitment, educational attainment, overall duration of relationships, as well as participants' and partners' age and gender. Core attributes such as the general attitude toward dating relationships were evaluated using distinct scales to measure both positive (content) and negative (discontent) aspects. Following this, the degree of ambivalence was gauged through subsequent measurements. Moreover, the evaluation of the dating relationship quality involved three assessments: the Cyberdating Q_A questionnaire (CQA), Sternberg’s Triangular Love Scale (STLS), and the Inclusion of Other in Self Scale (IOS).
To answer the research questions, a multivariate data analysis technique, namely canonical analysis, was employed.