Romantic experiences are more fluid and heterogeneous during middle adolescence than at any other life stage, but current understanding of this heterogeneity and flux is limited because of imprecise measurement. A sample of 531 adolescents (55% female; 28% non-Hispanic White; 32% Black; 27% Hispanic; 14% Other) recruited from an ongoing birth cohort study (Mean age = 16.7 years, SD = 0.358), was administered bi-weekly diaries over 52 weeks to prospectively record transitions in and out of romantic and sexual relationships and to assess links with positive affect (frequency of happiness) and negative affect (frequency of sadness). Relationship statuses considered included not only dating, but also liminal and asymmetrical statuses such as talking/flirting and crushes. Latent profile analyses revealed six relationship status trajectories, or love life profiles, based on the number of intra-year partners and on the extent of involvement in each of the relationship statuses. Approximately half of teens either were in stable dating relationships or uninvolved romantically during the year; however, half experienced variable levels of flux in their love lives. Relationship instability, not romantic involvement per se, was associated with higher levels of sadness and lower levels of happiness. Snapshots of teen romantic involvement based on one or two points in time obscure the extent of relationship heterogeneity and flux and how relationship status trajectories are associated with positive and negative affect.

与任何其他生命阶段相比，青春期中期的浪漫经历更具流动性和异质性，但由于测量不精确，目前对这种异质性和流动性的理解是有限的。从正在进行的出生队列研究（平均年龄 = 16.7 岁，SD = 0.358）中招募的 531 名青少年样本（55% 为女性；28% 为非西班牙裔白人；32% 为黑人；27% 为西班牙裔；14% 为其他）超过 52 周的双周日记，前瞻性地记录恋爱关系和性关系的进出转变，并评估与积极影响（幸福的频率）和消极影响（悲伤的频率）的联系。考虑的关系状态不仅包括约会，还包括阈限和不对称状态，例如谈话/调情和暗恋。潜在概况分析揭示了六个关系状态轨迹，或爱情生活概况，基于年内合作伙伴的数量以及对每种关系状态的参与程度。大约一半的青少年在这一年中要么处于稳定的约会关系中，要么没有恋爱关系；然而，一半的人在他们的爱情生活中经历了不同程度的变化。关系不稳定，而不是浪漫的参与本身，与更高水平的悲伤和更低水平的幸福有关。基于一两个时间点的青少年浪漫卷入的快照掩盖了关系异质性和流动性的程度以及关系状态轨迹如何与积极和消极影响相关联。大约一半的青少年在这一年中要么处于稳定的约会关系中，要么没有恋爱关系；然而，一半的人在他们的爱情生活中经历了不同程度的变化。关系不稳定，而不是浪漫的参与本身，与更高水平的悲伤和更低水平的幸福有关。基于一两个时间点的青少年浪漫卷入的快照掩盖了关系异质性和流动性的程度以及关系状态轨迹如何与积极和消极影响相关联。大约一半的青少年在这一年中要么处于稳定的约会关系中，要么没有恋爱关系；然而，一半的人在他们的爱情生活中经历了不同程度的变化。关系不稳定，而不是浪漫的参与本身，与更高水平的悲伤和更低水平的幸福有关。基于一两个时间点的青少年浪漫卷入的快照掩盖了关系异质性和流动性的程度以及关系状态轨迹如何与积极和消极影响相关联。