Understanding Emerging Adults’ Relationships: Analyzing Dyads

Having close positive relationships is considered part of the flourishing process in emerging adulthood; therefore, research on dyadic relationships and relational networks is critical in the literature about the transition to adulthood. This chapter presents some basic terminology about dyadic data analyses and provides an illustrative example on positive dyadic coping in romantic relationships during emerging adulthood. In the illustrative example, specific features of dyadic data analysis are presented (i.e., data structure, distinguishability, and measurement invariance), and one of the possible dyadic models is described step-by-step: the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model. Syntaxes and outputs are also available in supplementary files on this book’s support website. Finally, a brief discussion of the challenges of dyadic data analyses and future directions is provided.