To have and to hold: measuring commitment amongst cohabiting and married couples in New Zealand

Abstract

Researchers have moved from a global model of personal commitment to a multi-dimensional understanding of how commitment affects couples decisions to stay or leave their relationships. The aim of this study was to investigate cohabiting and married couples' commitment using Johnson, Caughlin, and Huston (1999) tripartite dimensional framework (personal, moral and structural commitment). Participants consisted of forty four married couples and twenty four cohabiting couples. Participants filled in questionnaires assessing family support, commitment and relationship behaviours, cohesion and expressiveness. Measures relating to religious affiliation and strength of religious belief, stress, divorce attitudes and satisfaction were also included. Correlations and regressions were conducted to investigate predictors of personal commitment, moral commitment, structural commitment, relationship satisfaction and divorce attitudes. Analyses for the total sample showed moral and structural commitment to be related with each other but not with personal commitment. Religiosity was positively correlated with moral and structural commitment. Personal commitment was associated with the commitment behaviours; maintaining integrity and creating a relational future, whilst working on relationship problems and expressing commitment were commitment behaviours associated with moral commitment. Analyses for cohabiters showed that personal and structural commitments were negatively correlated. Personal commitment was associated with the commitment behaviour; maintaining integrity whereas moral commitment was associated with creating a relationship future, working on relationship problems, and expressing commitment. Analyses for married couples showed a negative correlation between personal commitment and number of partner's previous relationships. Personal commitment was associated with the commitment behaviours; sharing companionship, showing respect and creating a relationship future. Regression analyses suggested that different variables impacted on satisfaction, commitment types and divorce attitudes depending upon relationship type. Results are discussed in terms of highlighting the importance of measuring commitment at different times during a couple's relationship development and how the context in which couples exist can affect the way they change as individuals within their relationships.