Teen Relationships

Why it Matters

Developmentally, one of the ways adolescents explore who they are is through romantic relationships. How adolescents approach these relationships is influenced by the relationships modeled around them. While some youth may have witnessed and learned about positive couple interactions from good models, many may have witnessed only poor models of couple relationships. Educational programs on healthy relationships can help youth develop skills to make smart relationship choices and avoid risky behaviors. The decision-making and relationship-building skills youth can learn through this programming can also spill-over into other relationships with parents, peers, and teachers.

Teaching Relationship Smarts

Relationship Smarts is a research-based curriculum that incorporates hands-on activities to focus on skills and knowledge necessary for healthy dating relationships. The curriculum, developed by The Dibble Institute, offers developmentally appropriate information that address identity development, personal goals and values, what healthy (vs abusive) relationships look like, current relationship dynamics, important communication skills, and the promotion of future-orientated thinking about relationships.

UGA Cooperative Extension Impact

Since 2008, Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H Extension agents, in partnership with schools and community agencies, across 82 counties, have delivered the Relationship Smarts (RS+) program to over 13,000 youth. Overall, participating youth have reported increases in knowledge, confidence that they can use the skills learned, likeliness to use these skills, and positive feelings about themselves. Click on the links below for more information about the impact UGA Extension is having on youth across Georgia.

Learn more about the research Dr. Futris and his team have published related to adolescent relationships and the impact ore RS+.

2022-2023 Impact 2021-2022 Impact 2018-2019 Impact 2017-2018 Impact

Communicating with Your Teen

As a parent, you know that the topics of relationships and sex are important ones to discuss with your children. But just because the topic is important does not make it easy to talk about. These publications, a part of the “Principles of Parenting” series, offer tips for helping you talk with your teen in ways that will help him or her make wise and healthy choices.

Additional Information

Related Links and Resources

Video: Relationship Smarts

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