Perspectives on Healthy Romantic Relationships in the Black Youth Community

The perceptions of what constitutes a healthy romantic relationship impact relationship choice that, when unhealthy, has long term effects on mental and emotional wellbeing. This qualitative study explored how African American/Black adolescents ages 18–19 define, perceive, and experience healthy romantic relationships. Using focus group methodology, the study addressed four research questions concerning (1) definitions and perceptions of healthy romantic relationships, (2) influences on relationship beliefs, (3) essential components for maintaining relationship health, and (4) lived experiences with healthy romantic relationships. We conducted two focus groups in which data saturation was reached when no new codes, conceptual insights, or themes emerged after the second group. Findings were analyzed using thematic analysis. Participants identified communication, trust, emotional safety, respect, and individuality as foundational elements of healthy relationships. Their beliefs were influenced by family modeling, peer norms, social media representations, and personal values such as faith. Adolescents emphasized boundaries, emotional regulation, shared goals, and mutual effort as essential for sustaining healthy relationships. Lived experiences revealed challenges such as communication difficulties, long-distance strain, and navigating generational patterns, while also highlighting resilience and a desire to break unhealthy relationship cycles. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of Black adolescents’ relationship development and offers implications for culturally responsive relationship education, family and community-based prevention and interventions, and media literacy initiative.