Predicting nonmarital romantic relationship dissolution: A meta-analytic synthesis

TLDR

Nonmarital romantic relationship dissolution is framed within broader theoretical and methodological discussions, highlighting implications for future research. The authors performed a meta‑analysis of 137 studies involving 37,761 participants over 33 years to identify predictors of nonmarital romantic relationship dissolution. Commitment, love, inclusion of others in the self, and dependence emerged as the strongest predictors, while satisfaction, alternative perceptions, investments, and social network support were modest or robust predictors, and personality traits had limited predictive utility.

Abstract

A meta-analysis of predictors of nonmarital romantic relationship dissolution was conducted, including data collected from 37,761 participants and 137 studies over 33 years. Individual, relationship, and external variables were investigated, and results suggest that commitment, love, inclusion of other in the self, and dependence were among the strongest predictors of dissolution. Other relational variables such as satisfaction, perceptions of alternatives, and investments were modest predictors of breakup, and the external factor of social network support was also a robust predictor. Personality measures were found to have limited predictive utility, with small effects found for dimensions relational in nature (e.g., adult attachment orientations). Theoretical and methodological implications are discussed within the context of future research on nonmarital relationship dissolution.