Can Virtual Reality be Used for the Prevention of Peer Sexual Harassment in Adolescence? First Evaluation of the Virtual-PRO Program.

Objective: The present study analyzed the Virtual-PRO program's efficacy in preventing peer sexual harassment by promoting the bystanders' active intervention and incorporating a virtual reality (VR) component. The impact of the program on sexist attitudes, moral disengagement, the intention to intervene as bystanders, and the involvement in sexual aggression and victimization was tested. Method: Virtual-PRO is a VR-enhanced sexual harassment curricular prevention program of six one-hour sessions. The evaluation comprised a pre-test, a post-test after the intervention, and a follow-up measure at three months. In the study, 579 Spanish adolescent students aged between 12 and 17 years (M = 14.76, SD = 0.88; 47.1% boys) were randomly grouped into experimental (n = 286) and control (n = 293) conditions. Results: The Virtual-PRO program effectively controlled participants' levels of sexism and reduced moral disengagement in the experimental group compared to the control group three months after the intervention. The program also showed positive results in changing bystander behavior, increasing the intention to intervene when the victim was not a friend. Finally, visual/verbal and online victimization decreased in the experimental group and increased in the control group. No differences were found for physical sexual victimization and sexual aggression. Conclusions: The first trial of the Virtual-PRO program is promising and highlights the use of VR as a sexual harassment prevention tool. Follow-up measures are essential to determine the impact of interventions accurately.

Objetivo: El presente estudio analiza la eficacia del programa Virtual-PRO en la prevención del acoso sexual entre iguales promoviendo la intervención activa de los espectadores mediante el uso de la realidad virtual (RV). Se comprobó el impacto del programa en las actitudes sexistas, la desconexión moral, la intención de intervenir como espectadores y la implicación en agresión y victimización sexual. Método: Virtual-PRO es un programa curricular compuesto por seis unidades que incorpora la RV para mejorar la prevención del acoso sexual. La evaluación incluyó una medida pre-test, un post-test después de la intervención y una medida de seguimiento a los tres meses. En el estudio participaron 579 estudiantes españoles de entre 12 y 17 años (M = 14.76, DT = 0.88, 47.1% chicos), agrupados aleatoriamente en grupo experimental (n = 286) y control (n = 293). Resultados: El programa Virtual-PRO controló eficazmente los niveles de sexismo y redujo la desconexión moral en el grupo experimental en comparación con el grupo de control tres meses después de la intervención. También mostró resultados positivos en el cambio del comportamiento de los espectadores, mejorando la intención de intervenir cuando la víctima no era amigo o amiga. Por último, la victimización visual/verbal y online disminuyó en el grupo experimental y aumentó en el grupo control. No se encontraron diferencias en victimización sexual física y agresión sexual. Conclusiones: El primer ensayo del programa Virtual-PRO es prometedor y pone de relieve el uso de la RV como herramienta eficaz para la prevención del acoso sexual. Las medidas de seguimiento son esenciales para determinar con precisión el efecto de las intervenciones.

Can Virtual Reality be Used for the Prevention of Peer Sexual Harassment in Adolescence? First Evaluation of the Virtual-PRO Program / [¿Puede utilizarse la realidad virtual para prevenir el acoso sexual entre iguales en la adolescencia? Primera evaluación del programa Virtual-PRO]

Objective: The present study analyzed the Virtual-PRO program’s efficacy in preventing peer sexual harassment by promoting the bystanders’ active intervention and incorporating a virtual reality (VR) component. The impact of the program on sexist attitudes, moral disengagement, the intention to intervene as bystanders, and the involvement in sexual aggression and victimization was tested. Method: Virtual-PRO is a VR-enhanced sexual harassment curricular prevention program of six one-hour sessions. The evaluation comprised a pre-test, a post-test after the intervention, and a follow-up measure at three months. In the study, 579 Spanish adolescent students aged between 12 and 17 years (M = 14.76, SD = 0.88; 47.1% boys) were randomly grouped into experimental (n = 286) and control (n = 293) conditions. Results: The Virtual-PRO program effectively controlled participants’ levels of sexism and reduced moral disengagement in the experimental group compared to the control group three months after the intervention. The program also showed positive results in changing bystander behavior, increasing the intention to intervene when the victim was not a friend. Finally, visual/verbal and online victimization decreased in the experimental group and increased in the control group. No differences were found for physical sexual victimization and sexual aggression. Conclusions: The first trial of the Virtual-PRO program is promising and highlights the use of VR as a sexual harassment prevention tool. Follow-up measures are essential to determine the impact of interventions accurately.(AU)

Objetivo: El presente estudio analiza la eficacia del programa Virtual-PRO en la prevención del acoso sexual entre iguales promoviendo la intervención activa de los espectadores mediante el uso de la realidad virtual (RV). Se comprobó el impacto del programa en las actitudes sexistas, la desconexión moral, la intención de intervenir como espectadores y la implicación en agresión y victimización sexual. Método: Virtual-PRO es un programa curricular compuesto por seis unidades que incorpora la RV para mejorar la prevención del acoso sexual. La evaluación incluyó una medida pre-test, un post-test después de la intervención y una medida de seguimiento a los tres meses. En el estudio participaron 579 estudiantes españoles de entre 12 y 17 años (M = 14.76, DT = 0.88, 47.1% chicos), agrupados aleatoriamente en grupo experimental (n = 286) y control (n = 293). Resultados: El programa Virtual-PRO controló eficazmente los niveles de sexismo y redujo la desconexión moral en el grupo experimental en comparación con el grupo de control tres meses después de la intervención. También mostró resultados positivos en el cambio del comportamiento de los espectadores, mejorando la intención de intervenir cuando la víctima no era amigo o amiga. Por último, la victimización visual/verbal y online disminuyó en el grupo experimental y aumentó en el grupo control. No se encontraron diferencias en victimización sexual física y agresión sexual. Conclusiones: El primer ensayo del programa Virtual-PRO es prometedor y pone de relieve el uso de la RV como herramienta eficaz para la prevención del acoso sexual. Las medidas de seguimiento son esenciales para determinar con precisión el efecto de las intervenciones.(AU)

Monitoring physicochemical modifications in beef steaks during dry salting using contact and non-contact ultrasonic techniques.

In conventional ultrasonic techniques, the necessary contact between the sensor and the product has constrained the implementation of ultrasound for quality control purposes in the meat industry. The use of novel air-coupled ultrasonic technologies provides multiple advantages linked to contactless inspection. Therefore, this study aims to compare the feasibility of contact (C; 1 MHz) and non-contact (NC; 0.3 MHz) ultrasonic techniques for monitoring the physicochemical modifications undergone by beef steaks during dry salting after different times (0, 1, 4, 8 and 24 hours). Experimental results showed that the ultrasonic velocity increased during salting, which was linked to the reduction in Time-of-Flight ratio (RTOF) and sample shrinkage (velocity C: R2 = 0.99; velocity NC: R2 = 0.93 and RTOF C: R2 = 0.98; RTOF NC: R2 = 0.95). In terms of the compositional changes provoked by salting, the velocity variation (△V) increased linearly (C: R2 = 0.97; NC: R2 = 0.95) with the salt content. As for textural parameters, hardness (C: R2 = 0.99; NC: R2 = 0.97) and relaxation capacity (C: R2 = 0.96; NC: R2 = 0.94) were well correlated with the △V through power equations. Experimental results reflected that the performance of the non-contact ultrasonic technique was similar to that of the contact technique as regards the monitoring of the physicochemical changes undergone by beef steaks during dry salting.

Cyber Dating Violence Instrument for Teens (CyDAV-T): Dimensional Structure and Relative Item Discrimination

BACKGROUND: Validated measures of cyber dating violence are scarce and have barely explored the sexual dimension. The present study advanced this line of research by developing a new instrument that differentiates between sexual, verbal and control dimensions. METHOD: The instrument was created in four phases: literature review, focus groups with young people, expert review, and creation of the final scale. This instrument was administered to 600 students from high schools in Seville and Córdoba, aged between 14 and 18 ( M = 15.54; SD = 1.22). RESULTS: A three-factor latent structure was confirmed for the aggression and victimization scales: verbal/emotional, control, and sexual. Using Item Response Theory, a refined version of the scales resulted in 19 items for both aggression and victimisation. Prevalence analysis showed that verbal/emotional forms were the most frequent, followed by control and sexual. CONCLUSIONS: The CyDAV-T instrument can be considered a valid instrument for assessing cyber dating violence in the adolescent population.

Traditional and cyber dating violence among adolescents: Profiles, prevalence, and short-term associations with peer violence.

There is a paucity of studies on dating violence profiles that incorporate the forms of cyber and sexual dating violence. Moreover, the results on the predictive role of peer violence on dating violence are inconsistent. Our aim was to identify dating violence profiles and to study the predictive value of peer violence profiles on dating violence profiles using a short-term longitudinal design. The sample consisted of 498 adolescents with current or past romantic relationship (42.8% boys), aged 12-18 years (M = 14.22; SD = 1.39). Four dating violence profiles were identified with an overlap between traditional and cyberdating violence. Peer violence profiles were associated with dating violence profiles 4 months later. The results suggest the need to prevent all forms of dating violence at an early age, starting with the improvement of interpersonal relationships between peers.

Cyber Dating Violence Instrument for Teens (CyDAV-T): Dimensional Structure and Relative Item Discrimination / Escala de Violencia Online en Parejas Adolescentes (CyDAV-T): Estructura Dimensional y Análisis de Respuesta de los Ítems

Background: Validated measures of cyber dating violence are scarce and have barely explored the sexual dimension.The present study advanced this line of research by developing a new instrument that differentiates between sexual,verbal and control dimensions. Method: The instrument was created in four phases: literature review, focus groupswith young people, expert review, and creation of the final scale. This instrument was administered to 600 studentsfrom high schools in Seville and Córdoba, aged between 14 and 18 (M = 15.54; SD = 1.22). Results: A three-factorlatent structure was confirmed for the aggression and victimization scales: verbal/emotional, control, and sexual. UsingItem Response Theory, a refined version of the scales resulted in 19 items for both aggression and victimisation.Prevalence analysis showed that verbal/emotional forms were the most frequent, followed by control and sexual.Conclusions: The CyDAV-T instrument can be considered a valid instrument for assessing cyber dating violence inthe adolescent population.(AU)

Antecedentes: Las medidas validadas de violencia online en la pareja adolescente son escasas y apenas han exploradola dimensión sexual. El presente trabajo avanzó en esta línea de investigación desarrollando un nuevo instrumento quecontemplase las formas sexuales, las verbales y el control. Método: La creación del instrumento se desarrolló en cuatrofases: revisión de la literatura, grupos focales con jóvenes, revisión de expertos y creación del instrumento final. Esteinstrumento fue administrado a 600 estudiantes de institutos de Sevilla y Córdoba, con edades comprendidas entrelos 14 y los 18 años (M = 15.54; DT = 1.22). Resultados: Se confirmó una estructura de tres factores latentes para lasescalas de agresión y victimización: verbal/emocional, control, y sexual. Utilizando la Teoría de Respuesta al ítem seelaboró una versión depurada de 19 ítems para agresión y victimización. Los análisis de prevalencia mostraron que lasformas verbales/emocionales fueron las más frecuentes, seguidas del control y la sexual. Conclusiones: El CyDAV-T sepresenta como un instrumento válido para la violencia online en la pareja adolescente.(AU)

Violence among adolescents: A study of overlapping of bullying, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, dating violence and cyberdating violence.

BACKGROUND: Face-to-face and virtual violence among adolescents could lead to polyvictimisation and polyaggression. More studies are needed to simultaneously analyse various types of violence to understand the extent of involvement in violence during adolescence. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the overlap of bullying, cyberbullying, sexual harassment, dating violence, and cyber dating violence, considering dating experience, gender, and stage of adolescence. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: This study involved 2514 Spanish middle school students (49.8 % girls) aged 11-19 years (M = 13.97, SD = 1.40). METHODS: The design of this study was cross-sectional. Data were collected through a survey. RESULTS: Among adolescents with no dating experience, 39.7 % were not victims, and 55.9 % were not aggressors. By contrast, among adolescents with dating experience, 7.1 % were not victims, and 10.5 % were not aggressors. Gender differences in poly-involvement were found between adolescents with and without dating experience. Girls were significantly less involved than boys as polyvictims and polyaggressors when they had no dating experience. They were significantly more involved than boys as polyvictims (9.7 %) and polyaggressors (23.9 %) in dating violence and cyber dating violence when they had dating experience. Age differences in poly-involvement were found only in adolescents with dating experience. Adolescents were more polyinvolved late than early adolescence, especially in dating violence, sexual harassment, and cyber dating violence as polyvictims (22.8 %) and polyaggressors (26.7 %). CONCLUSIONS: Experiences of poly-involvement are diverse according to dating experience, gender, and stage of adolescence. More comprehensive peer and dating violence prevention strategies need to be designed.

Assessment of Textural Properties of Puffed Corn Cakes during Storage at Different Relative Humidity.

Moisture adsorption is considered a critical factor during production and shelf-life of puffed corn cakes (PCC). This study aims to develop and validate an instrumental method and a mathematical model for the characterization of the textural modifications caused by the moisture adsorption in PCC. For that purpose, PCC were stored at different relative humidities to achieve a wide range of water activities (from 0.1 to 0.8 at 22 ± 1 °C). A flexion-compression test was successfully validated in order to characterize the average textural properties of a PCC batch. A mathematical model considering consecutive elastic and plastic zones satisfactorily fitted (average VAR 99.65% and MRE 3.29%) the average stress-strain profiles of PCC and reported useful textural parameters, such as the deformability modulus (E), critical strain (εc), and n curvature parameter. The structural modifications caused by moisture adsorption led to the reduction in E and n and the increase in εc. Even minor changes on the PCC moisture content involve remarkable modifications of the textural properties, which has to be considered for industry and retail distribution.

Is This WhatsApp Conversation Aggressive? Adolescents' Perception of Cyber Dating Aggression.

This study investigated adolescents' understanding of cyber dating aggression in terms of frequency and aggressiveness: how prevalent they perceived cyber dating aggression among adolescents and how aggressive they perceived such behaviors to be. To do so, different WhatsApp scenarios were presented to adolescents, controlling for the typology of cyber dating aggression (verbal/emotional, controlling, or sexual) and its publicity (public or private cyber dating aggression). The moderating effect of gender and moral disengagement (MD) was also analyzed. A total of 262 adolescents (56.5% girls; mean age of 14.46 years) participated in the study and answered a computer-based questionnaire. General linear models revealed that adolescents consider cyber dating aggression to be present in most adolescent romantic relationships. Controlling online behavior was perceived as the most frequent and the least aggressive behavior. Adolescents rated private cyber aggression as more frequent and less aggressive than public cyber aggressions. Controlling for gender, girls reported that cyber dating aggression was more common and more severe than boys. Moreover, participants with high levels of MD perceived cyber dating aggressions to be less aggressive than participants with medium-low MD. This study reveals the significance of the type of cyber dating aggression, the public/private dimension, gender, and MD as variables that influence adolescent understanding of cyber dating aggression. These results have implications not only for the design of cyber dating aggression prevention programs but also for future research on cyber dating aggression.

When Are Sexist Attitudes Risk Factors for Dating Aggression? The Role of Moral Disengagement in Spanish Adolescents.

This research aimed to explore the interplay of sexism and moral disengagement (MD) in the explanation of psychological and physical dating aggression. The sample comprised 1113 Spanish adolescents (49.2% girls, n = 552) between the ages of 12 to 17 (M = 14.44). A latent profile analysis conducted with sub-sample of 432 adolescents with sentimental experience identified four configurations: (1) benevolent; (2) less disengaged and sexist; (3) highly disengaged and sexist; and (4) moderately disengaged and sexist. Regarding gender and age, boys were more present than girls in the moderately disengaged and sexist group, as well as in the highly disengaged and sexist profile. The highly disengaged and sexist and benevolent groups were the youngest. Regarding dating aggression, the highly disengaged and sexist group had the highest engagement in physical and psychological aggression. However, the others three profiles showed a similar engagement in aggression. These findings confirmed the moderating role of MD on the relationship between sexism and dating aggression and suggested that the association between MD, sexism, and dating aggression was exponential; that is, the risk appeared when adolescents were extremely hostile and disengaged. The results have implications for the design of tailored dating aggression prevention programmes.

The Efficacy of the "Dat-e Adolescence" Prevention Program in the Reduction of Dating Violence and Bullying.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of the school-based "Dat-e Adolescence" prevention program in the reduction of dating aggression and victimization and bullying in adolescents. Method: a RCT design with three waves (pre-test, post-test and follow-up six months apart) and two groups (an experimental group and a control group) were used. One thousand four hundred and twenty three (1423) adolescents, mean age 14.98 (557 in the experimental group) participated in the study. Results: Efficacy evaluation was analyzed using Multiple-group latent growth models and showed that the Dat-e Adolescence program was effective in reducing sexual and severe physical dating violence and bullying victimization. Conclusions: The results suggest that dating violence prevention programs could be an effective approach for tackling different behavioral problems in adolescence given the protective and risk factors shared between dating violence and bullying.

Efficacy evaluation of "Dat-e Adolescence": A dating violence prevention program in Spain.

This study presents the first evaluation of Dat-e Adolescence, a dating violence prevention program aimed at adolescents in Spain. A cluster randomized control trial was used involving two groups (a control group and experimental group) and two waves (pre-test and post-test six months apart). 1,764 students from across seven state high schools in Andalucía (southern Spain) participated in the study (856 in the control group and 908 in the experimental group); 52.3% were boys (n = 918), with ages ranging from 11 to 19 years (average age = 14.73; SD = 1.34). Efficacy evaluation was analyzed using Latent Change Score Models and showed that the program did not impact on physical, psychological or online aggression and victimization, nor did it modify couple quality. It was, however, effective at modifying myths about romantic love, improving self-esteem, and improving anger regulation, as a trend. These initial results are promising and represent one of the first prevention programs evaluated in this country. Future follow-up will allow us to verify whether these results remain stable in the medium term.

Sexismo y agresiones en el noviazgo en adolescentes españoles, chilenos y colombianos / Sexism and dating violence in Spanish, Chilean and Colombian adolescents

Se examinó la relación entre el sexismo hostil y el sexismo benevolente y las agresiones psicológicas, físicas leves y físicas graves perpetradas y ejercidas por la pareja, entre 815 adolescentes, 382 varones y 433 mujeres, de 14 a 18 años, seleccionados en instituciones de educación secundaria de Sevilla (España), Talca (Chile) y Tunja (Colombia). El tipo de agresión más frecuente fue la verbal/psicológica, seguida por la física leve y la física grave, y los varones presentaron puntuaciones significativamente mayores en sexismo hostil que las mujeres. Los participantes colombianos presentaron puntuaciones significativamente más altas tanto en sexismo hostil como benevolente. Se presentaron más correlaciones estadísticamente significativas entre sexismo hostil y las agresiones ejercidas y sufridas, particularmente entre los varones, aunque ninguna de estas correlaciones fue moderada o alta y dependían del país de origen. Los resultados señalan que las creencias sexistas podrían estar relacionadas, pero no tienen un peso muy significativo ni en la perpetración ni en la victimización. Sin embargo, las diferencias entre hombres y mujeres en sexismo deberían considerarse a nivel preventivo

The relationship between hostile sexism and benevolent sexism, and mild and severe verbal/psychological and physical aggressions perpetrated and suffered was examined among 815 adolescents, 382 males and 433 females, 12 to 19 years old, selected from secondary schools in Seville (Spain), Talca (Chile) and Tunja (Colombia). The most frequent type of aggression found was verbal/psychological, followed by mild physical and severe physical aggression and males had significantly higher scores on hostile sexism than women. Colombian participants had significantly higher scores in both hostile and benevolent sexism. We found more statistically significant correlations between hostile sexism and exercised and suffered aggressions, particularly among males, although none of these correlations were moderate or high, varying by country. The results indicate that sexist beliefs might be involved but they don´t have a significant weight in perpetration or victimization. However, the differences between men and women in sexism should be considered at preventive level

Drug use prevention projects in schools in Vitória, Brazil: quality analysis and improvement proposals

Abstract Adolescents living in vulnerable regions are more exposed to risk factors for drug use. The prevention of such use in school is a public policy that needs evaluation. Based on technical criteria and derived from a mixed research, this article analyses the quality of school-based prevention of drug use in Vitória, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, and proposes improvements. A checklist of quality elements was completed with data from 16 projects proposed by 99 teachers from public schools. In 10 projects (62.5%), the approximate quality index was above 0.50. The majority of projects fulfilled the requirement of theoretical foundation (81.25%) and some of the methodological (93.75%), design (75%) and implementation (62%) requirements. Other requirements were absent: the majority were not designed by the whole school community (87.5%), and the participation of the family (62.5%) or the students as mediators (62.5%) was not considered. In general, contents of life skills (87.5%), positive relationships and alternative activities to drug use (56.25%) were not included. Activities for reinforcing the content were not described in any of the projects, and evaluation activities were described in only a few (31.25%). Many projects did not describe the inclusion of the project in the school curriculum (62.5%). Although, considering all items of effectiveness, regardless of their weight, more than half of the projects had an above average quality. The present items provide quality to the projects, whereas absent items indicate shortcomings to be improved using some of the measures described in this study.

El DaViPoP: un programa de prevención de violencia en el cortejo y las parejas adolescentes / DaViPoP: An adolescence dating violence prevention program

Pese al interés investigador y psicoeducativo que presenta el complejo fenómeno de la violencia en las primeras relaciones sentimentales adolescentes, son todavía pocos los programas de intervención evaluados desarrollados en nuestro país. Este trabajo presenta los primeros resultados relativos a la evaluación de la eficacia del programa educativo DaViPoP (Programa de Prevención de la violencia en el cortejo y parejas adolescentes), que ha sido configurado para desarrollar la competencia emocional y social para la gestión de la vida sentimental de la pareja y la prevención de la violencia en el cortejo y pareja adolescente. La investigación ha sido diseñada desde un modelo cuasi experimental con medidas repetidas pretest-postest en un grupo experimental y dos grupos de control y ha sido sometido a una evaluación cualitativa y cuantitativa. Los primeros resultados cuantitativos indican una mejora en las competencias para la gestión de la vida en pareja así como una reducción de la prevalencia del fenómeno, sobre todo en los chicos. Los resultados se discuten con relación a la literatura científica y a los resultados encontrados en programas de prevención desarrollados con anterioridad (AU)

Dating violence during adolescence is a complex phenomenon that has aroused the interest of scientific community, although there are few evaluated intervention programs developed in our country. This paper presents the first results concerning the evaluation of the effectiveness of the educational program DaViPoP (Adolescence Dating Violence Prevention Program), which has been configured to develop social and emotional competence for managing emotional life within the couple and the prevention of violence in dating couples. A quasi experimental pretest-posttest design program has been developed with one experimental group and two control groups. To procedures (one qualitative and one quantitative) were made to evaluate the impact of the prevention program on the participants. The first quantitative results indicate an improvement in management skills within couples and a reduction in the prevalence of the phenomenon, especially in boys. The results are discussed in relation to the scientific literature and the findings of previous prevention programs (AU)

The importance of adolescent dating relationships / El significado de las relaciones sentimentales en la adolescencia

Background: In recent years, an increasing number of studies have emerged that contribute to the explanation of the development and consolidation of adolescent romantic relationships. In this regard, Collins made a significant contribution to the previous models focusing on different stages; his proposal is focused instead on the meaning of each stage for adolescents. In attempting to find empirical support for this model, this paper analyses these couples’ characteristics at a deeper level; all the areas identified by Collins were considered together: involvement, content, quality of the couple, and cognitive and emotional processes. Method: 3,258 adolescents (48.6% males) in Andalusia were surveyed, selecting those who had a dating relationship at that time (N= 1,202). Cluster analysis and predictive discriminant analysis were run. Results: The results indicated four distinct groups of adolescent couples, which were different not only in the participants’ age, but in all the dimensions analyzed. Conclusions: These results are discussed in terms of the significance of these variables for adolescents when defining their romantic relationships (AU)

Antecedentes: en los últimos años ha crecido el número de estudios que han contribuido a la explicación del desarrollo y consolidación de las primeras relaciones sentimentales adolescentes. En este sentido, Collins ha realizado una contribución importante a los modelos de estadios propuestos hasta el momento, centrándose no tanto en los propios estadios como en el significado que cada uno de ellos tiene para los adolescentes. Tratando de dar soporte empírico a este modelo, el presente trabajo profundiza en el análisis de las características de estas parejas teniendo en cuenta, de forma conjunta, las áreas identificadas por Collins: implicación, contenido, calidad de la pareja y procesos cognitivos y emocionales. Método: fueron encuestados 3.258 adolescentes (chicos 48,6%) andaluces, seleccionando a aquellos que tenían una relación de pareja en ese momento (N= 1.202). Se utilizaron análisis de conglomerados y análisis discriminante predictivo. Resultados: los resultados apuntaron la existencia de cuatro grupos de jóvenes bien diferenciados que variaban, además de en la edad de los implicados, en todas las dimensiones analizadas. Conclusiones: estos resultados se discuten en términos de la importancia de la significación de estas variables para los jóvenes a la hora de definir su pareja sentimental (AU)

The importance of adolescent dating relationships.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, an increasing number of studies have emerged that contribute to the explanation of the development and consolidation of adolescent romantic relationships. In this regard, Collins made a significant contribution to the previous models focusing on different stages; his proposal is focused instead on the meaning of each stage for adolescents. In attempting to find empirical support for this model, this paper analyses these couples' characteristics at a deeper level; all the areas identified by Collins were considered together: involvement, content, quality of the couple, and cognitive and emotional processes. METHOD: 3,258 adolescents (48.6% males) in Andalusia were surveyed, selecting those who had a dating relationship at that time (N= 1,202). Cluster analysis and predictive discriminant analysis were run. RESULTS: The results indicated four distinct groups of adolescent couples, which were different not only in the participants' age, but in all the dimensions analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: These results are discussed in terms of the significance of these variables for adolescents when defining their romantic relationships.