Commitment and Dyadic Coping in Long-Term Relationships
Landis, M., Bodenmann, G., Bradbury, T.N., Brandstätter, V., Peter-Wight, M., Backes, S., Sutter-Stickel, D. & Nussbeck, F.W. (2014). Commitment and Dyadic Coping in Long-Term Relationships. GeroPsych: The Journal of Gerontopsychology and Geriatric Psychiatry, 27, 139-149
Background: Previous research focused on relationship commitment as the outcome of high satisfaction, poor alternatives, and high investments. We propose that commitment is a prerequisite in highly satisfied couples, fostering relationship maintenance behavior such as positive dyadic coping.
Method: Structural equation models identified the relationship between commitment, relationship satisfaction, and dyadic coping with data from 201 heterosexual couples with an average relationship length of 34 years.
Results: The common fate model confirmed that relationship satisfaction mediated the effects between commitment and dyadic coping on a latent dyadic level. Additional analyses revealed that women’s satisfaction was mainly responsible for mediating effects between both partners’ commitment and dyadic coping.
Conclusions: Findings support the essentiality of commitment for couples’ maintenance strategies and for consistency in long-term relationships.
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