Experiences with parents and romantic partners during adolescence are theorized to have long-term effects on youth development. However, little research has empirically examined the relative contributions of experiences in each type of relationship at different points during adolescence to positive development in young adulthood. The goal of the present study was to predict relative changes in youth positive personality characteristics, relational competence, and functional independence during young adulthood from specific behaviors experienced from parents and romantic partners during early and late adolescence. A diverse community sample of 147 individuals (59 males, 88 females) from the southeastern United States was repeatedly assessed across a 14-year period from age 13 to age 27. As hypothesized, parental acceptance and successful parental positive influence behavior toward adolescents at age 13 predicted relative increases in positive personality traits (e.g., agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional stability) between ages 23 and 27. These same parental behaviors measured at age 18 were less robust predictors of key outcomes relative to similar qualities of romantic relationships. Instead, romantic behaviors of toleration and appreciation at age 18 predicted relative increases in functional independence and relational competence between ages 23 and 27 (e.g., attachment closeness, reliable alliance, nurturance, and functional independence). Results suggest that parents’ successful efforts to positively influence and accept their children during early adolescence may lay a foundation for future positive personality growth, and that similar positive behaviors experienced in late adolescent romantic relationships may help prepare youth to develop broader supportive social relationships and independence skills in young adulthood.

从理论上讲，青春期与父母和浪漫伴侣的经历会对青少年发展产生长期影响。然而，很少有研究实证检验青春期不同时期每种关系的经历对青年期积极发展的相对贡献。本研究的目的是通过父母和恋人在青春期早期和晚期经历的特定行为来预测青年期积极人格特征、关系能力和功能独立性的相对变化。在从 13 岁到 27 岁的 14 年期间，对来自美国东南部的 147 名个体（59 名男性，88 名女性）的多元化社区样本进行了反复评估。假设，父母对 13 岁青少年的接受和成功的父母积极影响行为预测了 23 至 27 岁之间积极的人格特质（例如，随和、责任心、情绪稳定性）的相对增加。在 18 岁时测量的这些相同的父母行为对关键的预测因素不太可靠相对于类似性质的浪漫关系的结果。相反，18 岁时的宽容和欣赏浪漫行为预示着 23 至 27 岁之间功能独立性和关系能力的相对增加（例如，依恋亲密、可靠的联盟、养育和功能独立）。结果表明，父母在青春期早期积极影响和接受孩子的成功努力可能为未来的积极人格成长奠定基础，