An examination of the patterns of commitment to romantic relationships among traditional college students.

Abstract

Past studies of relationship commitment have examined commitment levels and how they varied across given populations. Recent research focuses on what factors determine one's commitment level. The current study investigated the variance of commitment levels across gender and academic classification (traditional age freshmen/ traditional age seniors). This study further examined the variance of six determinants of commitment (rewards, costs, ideal comparison level, alternatives, investments, and barriers to leave) across these groups. One hundred participants were administered a demographic profile, a commitment level measure (commitment portion of Sternberg's Triangular Love Scale), and an instrument which measured the six commitment determinants (Multiple Determinants of Relationship Commitment Inventory). A factorial analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed a significant effect for gender on levels of commitment. Females generally reported significantly higher commitment levels. Costs were defined as perceived sacrifices to being in one's relationship. Males and freshmen reported higher costs to being in their relationships. A significant interaction was found for the ideal comparison level determinant. Ideal comparison level is the standard ideal which people use to evaluate their relationships. Specifically, female seniors reported their relationships match their ideal more closely than did female freshmen and male seniors. Another determinant that varied significantly across the groups was alternatives. The alternatives determinant is the perceived attractive alternatives to one's current relationship. Freshmen perceived greater alternatives than did seniors. Finally, freshmen reported greater barriers to leaving their relationships. Barriers to leaving the relationship may include emotional barriers such as feeling obligated to stay. No significant effect was found for the rewards determinant or the investment determinant.