Influence of Approach-avoidance Commitment to Romantic Relationships on Mental Health and Subjective Happiness

Abstract

Commitment is the most important predictor of the maintenance of romantic relationships. Recently, Frank & Brandstattar (2002) and Strachman & Gable (2006) proposed that commitment can be divided into approach and avoidance commitment. The present study examines the influence of approach-avoidance commitment on mental health and subjective happiness. Sixty-nine romantic pairs completed a questionnaire about approach-avoidance commitment, positive and negative affect, subjective happiness and GHQ. The actor-partner interdependence model showed that for both men and women, own approach commitment was positively associated with positive affect; own avoidance commitment was positively associated with own negative affect. Additionally, a man’s approach commitment is negatively associated with a woman’s negative affect. Finally, whereas men’s negative affect is positively associated with GHQ score, women’s positive affect is positively associated with subjective happiness. These results suggest that the process by which approach-avoidance commitment influences mental health and happiness differs between men and women.