The association between rejection sensitivity and relationship commitment: Attachment styles as mediators

Voon, Daphne Kai Yen and Ng, Yi Xuan (2025) The association between rejection sensitivity and relationship commitment: Attachment styles as mediators. Final Year Project, UTAR.

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Abstract

This study examined the correlation between rejection sensitivity (RS) and relationship commitment among unmarried individuals who are currently committed in a romantic relationship, with attachment styles tested as mediators. Using a cross-sectional quantitative design, data were collected from 234 participants (79.9% female, 20.1% male, Mage = 23.97, SD = 4.07) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria of being aged 18 years and above, currently in a romantic relationship but not legally married, and Malaysian. Participants were recruited through self-selected, purposive, and snowball sampling and completed online self-report questionnaires comprising the Adult Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (ARSQ), the State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM), and the Multiple Determinants of Relationship Commitment Inventory (MDRCI). Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 and Hayes’ PROCESS macro (Model 4). Results demonstrated a significant negative correlation between RS and relationship commitment. Mediation analyses further indicated that secure and avoidant attachment significantly mediated this association, whereas anxious attachment did not. These findings suggest that RS predicts commitment through attachment-related mechanisms, operating differently across attachment styles. The study enhances understanding of how rejection sensitivity and attachment interact to shape commitment within the Malaysian cultural context, while also underscoring the broader role of cultural and social-contextual factors. Practically, the findings highlight the value of attachment-based counselling interventions to promote healthier relationships and strengthen commitment among unmarried young adults.

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