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Abstract
Research on romantic relationship quality shows that it has important implications for individual well-being, as well as romantic commitment. Few studies have simultaneously examined the contribution of one while controlling for the influence of the other among African American young adults. Utilizing a cross-sectional sample (N=400) of African American youth and their families, this study examines the joint consequences of relationship commitment and quality on individual well-being. Results showed partial support that both romantic commitment and romantic relationship quality predict individual well-being, specifically for alcohol use problems and antisocial behavior. Romantic commitment predicts a decrease in individual well-being for men, while the opposite is true for women. Relationship quality protects against antisocial behavior for both men and women, offering partial evidence that relationship quality is a better predictor of individual well-being. This research has important implications for romantic relationship intervention programs aimed at increasing individual well-being among young adults.