2026/04/15 by Alannah Shelby Rivers, Anitta Biju, Rachel Morrison +2 · 1 voice
Psychology · #Aging and Gerontology Research #Attachment and Relationship Dynamics #Identity, Memory, and Therapy
paper · doi:10.1177/02654075261443363
openalex publication_date 2026/04/15 · openalex created_date 2026/04/16 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
For emerging adults, developing and maintaining close relationships is an important developmental task relevant for well-being. Therefore, it is important to understand and assess relationship self-efficacy (RSE), reflecting one’s confidence in maintaining and managing close relationships. Most previous research on RSE has focused on romantic relationships, but developing work suggests similar processes may occur in friendships and other types of relationships, a key conceptual question. This study randomly assigned 654 US emerging adults to complete measures of RSE for either romantic relationships, friendships, or close relationships (generally), and examined associations with other key correlates (general and social self-efficacy, self-esteem, relationship satisfaction). With minor modifications, measurement invariance testing supported partial invariance up to the scalar level, suggesting items had similar meanings across contexts. Correlations with self and relational constructs were similar across RSE types with minor exceptions. Further research is needed to understand how RSE develops and relationships between different types of RSE.