'If She Isn't Jealous, That Means She Doesn't Love Me.' Representations of Love among French Early Adolescents: An Exploration of the Link with Perceptions of Dating Violence

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: 'If She Isn't Jealous, That Means She Doesn't Love Me.' Representations of Love among French Early Adolescents: An Exploration of the Link with Perceptions of Dating Violence
Language: English
Authors: Solveig Lelaurain (ORCID 0000-0002-0572-9306), Agathe Faruci, Léa Restivo
Source: Journal of Early Adolescence. 2026 46(7):937-970.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 34
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Dating (Social), Violence, Early Adolescents, Social Influences, Attitudes, Interpersonal Relationship, Gender Differences, Intimacy, Middle School Students
Geographic Terms: France
DOI: 10.1177/02724316251360391
ISSN: 0272-4316
1552-5449
Abstract: Young people are particularly at risk of experiencing dating violence (DV). Several quantitative studies among this population have highlighted the link between an adherence to romantic love and the legitimization and acceptance of DV. However, adolescents' meaning-making of love and violence is underexplored. We conducted in-depth interviews with 21 French adolescents (aged 11-15 years) in order to explore the social representations of love and the links between these representations and DV perception. Our results show that, from an early age, romantic love constitutes a frame of reference for understanding the ideal love relationship, and that it coexists with the perception of DV, the latter sometimes being interpreted as love, notably through the dimension of jealousy. While all interviewed strongly valued this form of love, notable gender differences were found in the expression of the love ideal and the relationship to violence. Whereas girls' speech focused more on respect and (non)violence, the boys valued fidelity and exclusivity above all. Our findings suggest that the fight against DV among teenagers must first and foremost involve the demystifying of dominant romantic representations.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508602
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1508602
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: 'If She Isn't Jealous, That Means She Doesn't Love Me.' Representations of Love among French Early Adolescents: An Exploration of the Link with Perceptions of Dating Violence
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Solveig+Lelaurain%22">Solveig Lelaurain</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0572-9306">0000-0002-0572-9306</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Agathe+Faruci%22">Agathe Faruci</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Léa+Restivo%22">Léa Restivo</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Early+Adolescence%22"><i>Journal of Early Adolescence</i></searchLink>. 2026 46(7):937-970.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 34
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dating+%28Social%29%22">Dating (Social)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Violence%22">Violence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Early+Adolescents%22">Early Adolescents</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Influences%22">Social Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attitudes%22">Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Relationship%22">Interpersonal Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intimacy%22">Intimacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Middle+School+Students%22">Middle School Students</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22France%22">France</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1177/02724316251360391
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0272-4316<br />1552-5449
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Young people are particularly at risk of experiencing dating violence (DV). Several quantitative studies among this population have highlighted the link between an adherence to romantic love and the legitimization and acceptance of DV. However, adolescents' meaning-making of love and violence is underexplored. We conducted in-depth interviews with 21 French adolescents (aged 11-15 years) in order to explore the social representations of love and the links between these representations and DV perception. Our results show that, from an early age, romantic love constitutes a frame of reference for understanding the ideal love relationship, and that it coexists with the perception of DV, the latter sometimes being interpreted as love, notably through the dimension of jealousy. While all interviewed strongly valued this form of love, notable gender differences were found in the expression of the love ideal and the relationship to violence. Whereas girls' speech focused more on respect and (non)violence, the boys valued fidelity and exclusivity above all. Our findings suggest that the fight against DV among teenagers must first and foremost involve the demystifying of dominant romantic representations.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1508602
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1508602
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/02724316251360391
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 34
        StartPage: 937
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dating (Social)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Violence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Early Adolescents
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intimacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Middle School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: France
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: 'If She Isn't Jealous, That Means She Doesn't Love Me.' Representations of Love among French Early Adolescents: An Exploration of the Link with Perceptions of Dating Violence
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Solveig Lelaurain
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Agathe Faruci
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Léa Restivo
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 08
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0272-4316
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1552-5449
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 46
            – Type: issue
              Value: 7
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Early Adolescence
              Type: main
ResultId 1