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Psychological correlates of crush experiences during early adolescence: Features of the crush experience matter.

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Title: Psychological correlates of crush experiences during early adolescence: Features of the crush experience matter.
Authors: Bowker, Julie C. (AUTHOR)
Source: International Journal of Behavioral Development. May2026, Vol. 50 Issue 3, p431-436. 6p.
Subjects: Romantic love, Infatuation, Loneliness, Psychology, Adolescence, Social interaction, Awareness, Mental depression
Abstract: Few young adolescents are involved in romantic relationships, but many have a crush. Although an understudied romantic experience, crush experiences appear to be developmentally significant with unique psychological concomitants. Not all crush experiences are alike and may differ greatly in the extent to which interaction with the crush occurs (crush interaction) and whether the crush is aware of the affection (crush awareness). This empirical report study considers these two features of crush experiences and whether variability in these features is associated with variability in psychological outcomes during early adolescence. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 179 young adolescents (M age = 13.71; SD = 0.82; 54% female). Results showed that most young adolescents reported interacting sometimes with their crush (crush interaction) and were uncertain as to whether their crush was aware of their affection (crush awareness). Significantly, crush interaction was related negatively to loneliness. Crush awareness was related positively to depressive symptoms, but only at low levels of crush interaction. Findings show variability in two features of crush experiences during early adolescence and suggest that these features may independently, and at times, interactively, help to explain when crush experiences pose psychological risk versus benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of International Journal of Behavioral Development is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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PubType: Academic Journal
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  Data: Psychological correlates of crush experiences during early adolescence: Features of the crush experience matter.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bowker%2C+Julie+C%2E%22">Bowker, Julie C.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22International+Journal+of+Behavioral+Development%22">International Journal of Behavioral Development</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 50 Issue 3, p431-436. 6p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Romantic+love%22">Romantic love</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Infatuation%22">Infatuation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Loneliness%22">Loneliness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychology%22">Psychology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adolescence%22">Adolescence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+interaction%22">Social interaction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Awareness%22">Awareness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+depression%22">Mental depression</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Few young adolescents are involved in romantic relationships, but many have a crush. Although an understudied romantic experience, crush experiences appear to be developmentally significant with unique psychological concomitants. Not all crush experiences are alike and may differ greatly in the extent to which interaction with the crush occurs (crush interaction) and whether the crush is aware of the affection (crush awareness). This empirical report study considers these two features of crush experiences and whether variability in these features is associated with variability in psychological outcomes during early adolescence. Cross-sectional survey data were collected from 179 young adolescents (M age = 13.71; SD = 0.82; 54% female). Results showed that most young adolescents reported interacting sometimes with their crush (crush interaction) and were uncertain as to whether their crush was aware of their affection (crush awareness). Significantly, crush interaction was related negatively to loneliness. Crush awareness was related positively to depressive symptoms, but only at low levels of crush interaction. Findings show variability in two features of crush experiences during early adolescence and suggest that these features may independently, and at times, interactively, help to explain when crush experiences pose psychological risk versus benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of International Journal of Behavioral Development is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=194639446
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/01650254251339393
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 6
        StartPage: 431
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Romantic love
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Infatuation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Loneliness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Adolescence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social interaction
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Awareness
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental depression
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Psychological correlates of crush experiences during early adolescence: Features of the crush experience matter.
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          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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              Value: 01650254
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              Value: 50
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              Value: 3
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            – TitleFull: International Journal of Behavioral Development
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