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Relationship uncertainty isn't necessarily just an uncomfortable feeling.
A 2025 study examined 276 people who currently had romantic partners.
Greater attachment anxiety and avoidance were associated with greater relationship uncertainty.
In turn, greater uncertainty was associated with lower commitment.
The connection was particularly pronounced in the model involving attachment anxiety.
The study was cross-sectional, so it doesn't prove that uncertainty directly causes commitment to decline.
But repeatedly wondering “Where is this relationship going?” may be connected with how strongly someone feels able to commit to it.
© Psychological Reports (2025)