Ambivalent Sexism and Reported Relationship Qualities in Emerging Adult Heterosexual Dating Couples

Abstract

We investigated the relations between the endorsement of ambivalent sexism and relationship qualities in heterosexual romantic couples during emerging adulthood. The sample included 94 heterosexual emerging adult dating couples attending a public university ( M age = 21 years; 39% White, 25% Latinx, 11% Asian, and 18% Other). Each partner separately completed survey measures of ambivalent sexism and perceived relationship satisfaction and conflict. Dyadic analyses were performed using structural equation modeling. Results indicated men’s hostile sexism predicted lower satisfaction and more conflict for men and their partners, whereas men’s benevolent sexism (BS) predicted more satisfaction and lower conflict for men and their partners. Women’s BS was negatively related to the length of the couple’s relationship. The results are discussed in relation to ways that ambivalent sexism may affect the dating relationships of many emerging adults in college settings and how these effects may change over time in relationships and at later life stages.