Most people enter a relationship hoping it would lead to marriage but sometimes it doesn’t work out as planned. How would you love it if you could determine if your relationship is doomed or would most likely lead to marriage?
Researchers may now be able to predict the fate of your relationship.
A new study by researchers from the University of Illinois found four distinct patterns of commitment, which researchers say can reveal the fate of different relationships.
After tracking the progress of 376 unmarried couples in their mid-20’s over a period of nine months, the researchers were able to identify four different commitment patterns: dramatic, partner-focused, socially involved, and conflict-ridden.
Dramatic (34% of the sample) – This group has many ups and downs, and spends more time apart than other relationship types. These couples have less support from their families and friends.
Partner-focused (30% of the sample) – This type of relationship values the partner over everything else, though changes can occur based on how much time is spent together.
Socially involved (19% of the sample) – This group is heavily influenced by the couple’s interactions with social networks, including friends and family, but experiences little variability.
Conflict-ridden (12% of the sample) – This type of relationship centres around argument. These couples have a large number of downturns, but without the steep changes of the ‘dramatic’ group.
Couples that exhibited partner-focused behaviour were most stable in their commitment to wed, and were the most likely to progress in their relationships.
‘Dramatic’ couples were found most likely to break up.
So if your relationship is the partner-focused type, you and your partner are most likely to end up getting married. So what relationship type are you?
The research team was led by Brian Ogolsky of the University of Illinois.
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