Teenagers who are unlucky in love may be at a higher risk of mental and social problems, including drug abuse, a new study has warned.
Researchers at the University of Denver recruited 200 teenagers for a nine-year study.
Each year participants were invited to fill out a questionnaire to test how satisfied they were with their love lives, how much they argued with their partners, and whether they suffered from depression, isolation, substance abuse or other difficulties.
Also Read
The psychologists found a link between miserable relationships and unhappiness in other areas of the teenagers' lives. This link only strengthened as they grew up, 'The Times' reported.
"Relationships can be really stressful and can leave lesser resources for managing other areas of one's life," said Charlene Collibee, who led the study.
However, between the ages of 15 and 24, young people find on the whole that their relationships become happier and more supportive.
"Romantic relationships also become increasingly supportive, more intimate and more interdependent as adolescents get older," researchers said.
The research was published in the journal Child Development.
