ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book highlights a variety of tasks that individuals face in making their relationships work, particularly with respect to their romantic relational life at different stages of the life course. It offers an accessible introduction to dyadic data analysis and builds upon basic model types, and presents important questions to ask and decisions to make. The book outlines important advanced analytic directions for tackling different types of research questions. It identifies some of the most important insights on the causes and conditions associated with success or failure to maintain satisfactory relationships in mid-life. The book highlights close friendships as an important resource throughout adult life, and also offers a look on beneficial relational bonds beyond romantic relationships. It provides an overview of the methodological toolbox that widens the bottleneck between theory and empirical progress.
