Influence of approach-avoidance commitment on emotional experience in romantic relationships: From the perspective of actor-partner interdependence moderation model (APIMoM)

Abstract

This study examined the influence of approach-avoidance commitment on emotional experience in romantic relationships. Ninety-one heterosexual couples participated in a questionnaire survey. Actor-partner interdependence moderation model (APIMoM) was used for analyzing intrapersonal process, interpersonal process, and partner moderation effect. Results indicated that for the intrapersonal process, when approach commitment was weak, avoidance commitment was negatively associated with it. For the interpersonal process, men’s approach commitment was positively associated with women’s emotion. In the partner moderation effect, interaction between men’s approach commitment and women’s avoidance commitment was associated with men’s emotion; and interaction between women’s approach commitment and men’s avoidance commitment was associated with women’s emotion. These results were discussed from the perspective of behavior and interaction caused by approach-avoidance commitment.