What are we? The nature of and motivations behind emerging adults' in between relationships

In between relationships (IBRs) constitute relationships that overlap between friendships and romantic relationships. They are characterized by definitional uncertainty, as well as the other types of relational uncertainty identified by Knobloch and Solomon (1999). The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews among emerging adults with ongoing or terminated IBRs. Topic avoidance reinforced the prevalent relational uncertainty among IBRs. Being in an IBR had advantages, such as companionship, perceived safety, and positive feelings, that motivated emerging adults to initiate and maintain them. However, the disadvantages that followed, such as stress, lack of exclusivity, and negative feelings, became a contributing factor to its termination. The researchers also proposed three types of IBRS, and conceptualized a framework that illustrates the development of IBRs.