Satisfaction and commitment in homosexual and heterosexual relationships

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Relationship Science

Background:

• Understanding relationship dynamics is crucial for psychological well-being.
• Rusbult's investment model provides a framework for analyzing relationship maintenance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate determinants of relationship satisfaction and commitment.
• To examine these determinants across gender and sexual orientation groups (homosexual and heterosexual).

Main Methods:

• Utilized Rusbult's investment model (1980, 1983).
• Employed a questionnaire measuring rewards, costs, alternatives, investments, satisfaction, and commitment.
• Assessed male/female homosexual and heterosexual individuals.

Main Results:

• Women (lesbians and heterosexuals) reported higher relationship investment and commitment than men.
• Heterosexual individuals reported higher relationship costs and marginally higher investments.
• Gender was a more significant predictor than sexual preference in relationship satisfaction and commitment.

Conclusions:

• The investment model effectively predicted relationship satisfaction and commitment across all groups.
• Higher satisfaction linked to greater rewards and lower costs.
• Greater commitment associated with higher satisfaction, investments, and poorer alternatives.
• Relationship costs more strongly predicted satisfaction and commitment for women than men.