The Impact of COVID-19 stress on adolescent dating relationship quality: The moderating role of parental support

The Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted social relationships and mental health across the globe. Adolescents, being in a developmentally vulnerable position, have faced negative adjustment outcomes that are likely impacting their close relationships, including those with romantic partners and parents. Although research has been conducted on adult romantic relationships and adolescent parental relationships during the pandemic, there has been little investigation into the area of adolescent romantic relationships during this time. The goal of the present study was to determine how adolescent dating relationships have been impacted by the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how parental support during lockdown plays a role in relationship quality. Moderate levels of COVID-19 stress and parental support were reported among the present sample, along with high relationship quality. Regressions showed no significant relationship between COVID-19 stress, romantic relationship quality, and parental support. However, contextual questions revealed positive relationship changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as increases in commitment and closeness. The findings of the present study are important for understanding the ways adolescent romantic relationship quality during the pandemic may impact adolescents’ capacity to develop future successful social and romantic relationships moving into adulthood