Are you or your partner experiencing intrusive thoughts about your relationship, your feelings, your sexual connection, your expectations, or worries about the future? Maybe you have noticed what feels like cold feet when it comes to commitment. You might find yourself asking: “What if they…
Reaching 100 blog posts on DecideToCommit.com is more than an achievement in consistency. It is a celebration of growth, discovery, collaboration, and the shared belief that research should not remain confined to academic journals. Nearly a decade ago, this project began with a simple intention.…
In today’s fast-paced world, where work demands, financial pressures, parenting responsibilities, and digital distractions constantly pull couples in different directions, maintaining connection can feel increasingly difficult. Fighting for Your Marriage: Positive Steps for Preventing Divorce and Building a Lasting Love (4th Edition), authored by Drs.…
Many people grow up believing they need to find “the one.” A perfect soulmate who appears at exactly the right time and makes love effortless. Disney fairy tales and the curated glow of social media can make that ideal feel normal, as if healthy relationships…
When you ask happily married couples what helps them through difficult seasons, you often hear recurring themes: trust, open communication, shared beliefs, and forgiveness. These traits rarely work in isolation. Research shows that they are intertwined and grounded in a deeper sense of meaning. At…
Despite modern technology allowing us to be constantly connected, many adults in the United States report feeling isolated or lacking companionship, which is consistent with national surveys and public health surveillance on social connection and mental health (American Psychological Association, 2025; Bruss et al., 2024).…
Valentine’s Day is widely recognized as a time to highlight love across all types of relationships. Friends gather for Galentine’s Day, families exchange warm messages, and romantic partners plan date nights, post affectionate photos, and exchange gifts. The first blog post on this website highlighted…
As a research team we have been hearing a lot about the phrase “sneaky links” lately. It’s everywhere, in TikTok captions, group chats, and whispered conversations that start with “don’t judge me, but…” And while it might sound like just another piece of dating slang,…
Sometimes people don’t fall in love with who their partner is, but with who they imagine their partner might one day become. Someone who only ticks a few of their boxes, but hopefully, with time and experience, can tick all of their boxes. An idea…
In the beginning, it feels like magic. Starting a new relationship often brings a rush of energy that feels almost euphoric. There are endless smiles, late‑night conversations that make sleep feel optional, and moments where time seems to pause. Your heart does not only flutter…
Parenting can be one of the most challenging roles a person takes on, yet it is also one of the most profoundly rewarding. When a child receives a diagnosis, new layers of complexity often emerge, but so do new opportunities to witness resilience, growth, and…
When the subject of optimism comes up, people tend to roll their eyes. It can seem like faux happiness, naiveté, or plain delusion. A mindset of sunshine and rainbows despite the bleakness of reality. Perhaps it brings to mind the “glass half full” comments, where…
Let’s take a moment to imagine the purest love you’ve ever received. A love that left you breathless, filled your chest with butterflies, and made you feel on top of the world. Who came to mind? A past romantic partner? Your current significant other? Or…
All couples fight. Even though it can be painful, conflict is a natural occurrence. Life throws plenty of challenges at couples. Stress, anger, and disagreement are inevitable. You may know the hit 80’s anthem, Love is a Battlefield, where Pat Benatar belts, “We are young,…
We often think of commitment as a big grand gesture such as wedding vows, moving in together, or saying the first “I love you”. But what if the real glue in relationships is made from much smaller acts of commitment? Micro-commitments are the subtle, everyday…
When we commit our love to one another, we simultaneously place our trust in the ability of others to be considerate of our emotions. In doing so, we give power to those we care about opening ourselves to be more vulnerable than ever before. In…
Grief can be difficult to understand, especially when emotions are colliding. Finding solace in grief begins with recognizing how unpredictable these emotions can be. You may be feeling angry about losing someone, you may be sad they are no longer with you, you may be…
With over 20 million copies sold, Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages has become a cultural phenomenon since its release in 1992. Translated into 50 languages and featured on bestseller lists like The New York Times for hundreds of weeks, its influence now stretches far beyond the bookshelf. From…
Have you ever stopped to wonder just how important sex is within a romantic relationship? Research studies indicate that both sexual frequency and sexual satisfaction are strong predictors of overall relationship quality in couple relationships (e.g. Muise et al., 2016). Sexual satisfaction is essential as…
This past June 4th through June 6th, Dr. Sibley, Julie Abbinante, and I had the chance to present our research at the Society for The Study of Emerging Adulthood (SSEA) 2025 Conference in Charleston, South Carolina, at the Hyatt Place. Dr. Sibley and I flew…
Teens in the U.S. spend on average 4.8 hours a day on social media, and 87% of that time is spent on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Besides posting memes and watching the most recent viral video, young people are also using their time on social…
As we find ourselves navigating a world where hedonism and individuality is celebrated, the societal norm has shifted to the vilification of a lifelong union. The message is loud and clear from the media, entertainment industry and everywhere around us: “Marriage means you’re sacrificing your career, education…
Communication is a vital aspect of every relationship. Being open and having the ability to communicate with our partners is extremely important when building a healthy relationship. Emotional expression, availability, and communication skills regarding emotions are strong predictors of relationship satisfaction (Bloch et al., 2014).…
Although it requires great effort, a lifelong romantic relationship is possible to attain and something we can strive for. Although many worry that relationships are not sustainable, research indicates about half of all marriages last a lifetime. Understandably the journey to this goal is not…
