The Impact of Premarital Cycling on Early Marriage

Abstract

Using a sample of 564 newlywed couples and the enduring dynamics model of marriage, the study examined the impact of premarital cycling (breaking up and renewing) on the entrance into marriage and relationship dynamics over the first 5 years. Consistent with the enduring dynamics model, results demonstrated cyclical couples (compared to noncyclical couples) exhibited worse adjustment on a variety of relationship indicators at the entrance to marriage and were more likely to experience a trial separation over the first 5 years. Dyadic parallel process growth curve analysis further revealed that premarital cycling predicted lower initial relationship satisfaction that was sustained over the first 5 years of marriage. Implications for theory, research, and intervention with premarital couples are discussed. These results provide evidence that courtships characterized by breakups and renewals represent a relational vulnerability with negative implications extending years into the future.

Dedication and Sliding in Emerging Adult Cyclical and Non‐Cyclical Romantic Relationships

“…For example, cohabiting couples who experienced a breakup and renewal prior to cohabiting were more likely to currently report lower relationship satisfaction, greater uncertainty in the future of their relationship, and that child care was an important factor in their decision to cohabit than cohabiting partners who did not experience a breakup and renewal prior to cohabiting (Vennum et al, 2013). This pattern is mirrored at the transition to marriage, with newlyweds who ended and renewed their relationship prior to marriage being more likely to have considered calling off the engagement and reporting greater uncertainty in their decision to wed, less closeness, greater conflict, and less satisfaction than newlyweds with stable courtships (Vennum & Johnson, ).…”

“…About 30% to 50% of emerging adults (roughly ages 18–29; Arnett, ) have experienced at least one breakup and reconciliation with their current dating partner (a process termed relationship cycling , relationship churning , or on–off relationships ) and, compared to non‐cyclical partners, partners who have experienced a breakup and renewal report lower commitment and satisfaction, poorer communication, greater uncertainty, and higher levels of verbal abuse and physical violence (Dailey, Middleton, & Green, ; Dailey, Pfiester, Jin, Beck, & Clark, ; Dailey, Rosetto, Pfiester, & Surra, ; Halpern‐Meekin, Manning, Giordano, & Longmore, ). Unfortunately, the risks associated with relationship cycling during emerging adulthood appear to be enduring, affecting relationship stability and quality during later cohabitation and marriage (e.g., Vennum & Johnson, ). The lower dedication and greater uncertainty experienced by cyclical dating partners (e.g., Dailey, Pfiester, et al, ) may be due in part to less explicit decision making in their relationships.…”

Parenting in On/Off Relationships: The Link Between Relationship Churning and Father Involvement

“…Research has found that young adults in churning relationships, compared with those in stably together or stably broken-up relationships, report more frequent conflict, lower levels of validation, lower levels of commitment, and higher levels of physical violence and verbal abuse (Halpern-Meekin et al 2013a, b). Other research has found that young adult churners report lower relationship satisfaction, feel less certain about the relationship’s future, and are less dedicated to their partners than their counterparts (Vennum and Johnson 2014; Vennum et al 2014, 2015). Qualitative research has also suggested that on/off relationships are frequently troubled, beset by issues such as conflict and infidelity (Cross-Barnett et al 2011).…”

Self‐esteem trajectories across 25 years and midlife intimate relations

“…More broadly, both level and rate of change in self‐esteem likely impact the long‐term health of intimate relations by determining the time at which partners are able to prioritize connection with a partner over the desire for self‐protection. Those motivated to connect early in a relationship (via high initial levels and/or rapid growth in self‐esteem) likely reap benefits years later, as dynamics at the outset of a relationship endure into the future (e.g., Caughlin & Huston, ; Vennum & Johnson, ).…”