Commitment, the big “C-word” in relationships, is defined as feeling connected to your partner, wanting your relationship to succeed, and thinking about your long-term future together.1 Although there are downsides to commitment (see here for an example), commitment is associated with lots of good outcomes, including:2
1. Staying Together
If you want your relationship to stay together, there’s nothing like commitment to do the trick. Commitment is associated with having longer and more stable relationships, and more committed people are less likely to break up with their partners.3 The research on this is very clear: building commitment in your relationship enhances your chances of staying with your partner for the long haul.