Experiencing and Communicating Romantic Jealousy: Questioning the Investment Model

Abstract

Though researchers have investigated individual aspects of Rusbult's (1980) Investment Model of relational commitment in association with romantic jealousy, previous research had not employed the model as a theoretical framework for understanding variations in jealousy experience and expression within dating partnerships. Thus, the current research examined commitment, satisfaction, quality of alternatives, and investment in association with cognitive and emotional jealousy experience, and forms of jealousy expression. Mixed findings were observed for the bivariate associations between the investment model and jealousy variables. Further, the mediational role of commitment as specified by the investment model was not helpful in understanding jealousy experience and jealousy expression processes, with the sole exception of integrative communication. Implications for the study of romantic jealousy and the investment model are discussed in light of these findings.

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Jerry Hale and Jennifer Monahan for their helpful comments on earlier versions of the manuscript.

Notes

Note. Correlations for variables 1 through 6 were considered significant at p < .05. Correlations for the remaining variables were considered to be significant at p < .01 to alleviate familywise error.

*p < .05, **p < .01.

Note. β = Standardized regression coefficient.

*p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer L. Bevan

An earlier version of this article was presented as a Top Four article in the Interpersonal Communication Division at the 2006 Western States Communication Association annual meeting, Palm Springs, CA