Avoidance motivation and relationship commitment in heterosexual,gay male,and lesbian partners

This study examined whether avoidance motivation is distinct from the satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, and investment size components of C. E. Rusbult, J. M. Martz, and C. R. Agnew’s (1998) investment model. Data from 3 samples (392 heterosexual dating partners, 225 heterosexual dating partners, and 351 gay male or lesbian cohabiting partners, respectively) indicated that items tapping satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, investment size, and avoidance motivation defined separate factors and that avoidance motivation accounted for unique variance in commitment. Satisfaction level moderated the link between investment size and commitment for dating partners and moderated the link between quality of alternatives and commitment, investment size and commitment, and avoidance motivation and commitment for gay male or lesbian partners.