Impact of Commitment to Psychological Well-being among Students Who are Undergoing Long-Distance Relationship

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Abstract

The phenomenon of long-distance relationships among students that have developed in this era is an opportunity that allowed them to thrive optimally in maintaining their relationships. However, in fact, LDR for students is still a challenge in itself because it requires a greater effort that can affect the achievement of individual psychological well-being. Psychological well-being is a necessary condition for individuals, including students who are in long-distance relationships so that they are able to maintain relationships optimally. Psychological well-being can be achieved by the presence of various factors, one of which is commitment. This study aims to determine the relationship between commitment and psychological well-being in students who are in long-distance relationships. The method used in this research is correlational quantitative. 587 students are undergoing long-distance relationships to become participants in this study with the accidental sample as the sampling technique. This study used two scales The Revised Commitment Inventory and the Ryff Scale of Psychological Well-being. The hypothesis test results with the Pearson correlation were 0,987 with sig = 0,000 (p<0,01), which means that the research hypothesis was accepted. Commitment contributed 97,4% to psychological well-being. This research shows that commitment is a very strong factor related to achieving psychological well-being in students who are in long-distance relationships. Commitment is essential in helping students to maintain relationships with existing different conditions while maintaining their psychological well-being and still carrying out their academic role optimally.

General Information

Journal rubric: Educational Psychology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/pse.2024290411

Acknowledgements. The authors are grateful to all the participants.

Received: 30.08.2023

Accepted:

For citation: Welvart S.G.M., Huwae A. Impact of Commitment to Psychological Well-being among Students Who are Undergoing Long-Distance Relationship. Psikhologicheskaya nauka i obrazovanie = Psychological Science and Education, 2024. Vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 140–152. DOI: 10.17759/pse.2024290411.

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Introduction

Human beings, as social creatures, inevitably need to establish connections with other living beings. Therefore, entering into romantic relationships becomes a desire for every human. Generally, the inclination to engage in romantic relationships emerges during adolescence, but it further develops during emerging adulthood, which is a period of identity exploration, especially in the context of love, work, and education [13]. Emerging adulthood refers to the developmental stage focused on ages 18 to 29, but developmentally, the years between ages 18 and 24 seem to be very different than between 25 and 29 [33]. College students fall within the age range of 18 to 24, according to data from the Statistics of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education and Culture [37].

One phenomenon related to romantic relationships among college students is the long-distance relationship (LDR). LDR entails a romantic relationship between partners who are physically separated by distance, such as residing in different cities, provinces, islands, or even countries [25]. Research has shown that many individuals face the challenge of maintaining relationships with partners from different universities [10]. This situation often leads college students to engage in LDRs. The prevalence of LDRs continues to rise, indicating a significant shift. A survey conducted by Rahmawati and Chozanah [41] of 1,000 participants in Indonesia found long-distance relationships only had a 58% success rate. Djupe in 2023 [19] also found that 75% of students have been in a long-distance relationship. This study also found that one strong reason for college students to engage in LDRs is the demand to pursue experiences in life trajectories diverge. Based on the research from the Center Long Distance Relationship Research (CSLDR) in 2021, there is 2,9% of couples in the United States or 3,75 million couples in a long-distance relationship. In addition, it was found that 32,5% of relationships are at the university level [48]. According to “Long Distance Relationship Statistics” by Guldner, shows that approximately 70% of college students were in a long-distance relationship at some point during their college years. The survey also found that 58% of long-distance relationships are successful with the average duration of the relationship in 2023 being 14 months [44].

Love relationships in Indonesian culture are often arranged and based on patriarchal rules that stress the importance of partners belonging to the same cultural background and place of residence. Furthermore, these relationships create strong bonds not only between the couples but also between their respective families [7]. Dating different religions, races, and ethnicities is still dominantly opposed in Indonesian cultural traditions, as it will undermine the regeneration of the local culture of the individual's family. This is why most dating couples tend to have the same local cultural background and are bound by cultural and religious rituals [23; 40]. This basis is what makes individuals in a dating relationship tend to maintain their relationship even though they are in LDRs.

Romantic relationships experienced by college students in LDRs may contribute to their personal growth, the discovery of meaning and purpose in life, and the enhancement of prosocial skills [24]. However, in reality, LDRs can lead to complex challenges that may encompass ambiguity and uncertainty in communication, resulting in relationship strain and emotional issues between partners [10]. Couples in LDRs face challenges to remain connected at a distance that impacts relationship maintenance behaviors and also often leads to psychological and emotional distress [9; 35]. Additionally, college students in LDRs may experience distrust and fear of being left behind, leading to increased emotional pressure in their efforts to maintain closeness with their partners [8], particularly when engaged in long-distance relationships.

The phenomenon of college students in LDRs not only involves physical distance but also extends to deep-seated issues related to partner control, especially when the partners are separated by islands. The lives of college students in LDRs are also intertwined with encounters with new individuals that impact their relationships, potentially evoking specific forms of relationship insecurity [22]. The LDRs experienced by college students often demand more substantial effort, particularly in terms of finances, especially when the distance is considerable. Additionally, LDRs can create personal conflicts that disrupt daily life as a student, making it difficult for individuals to engage in relationships because they often feel isolated and lonely due to partner-imposed limitations [29]. These factors can lead to a lack of openness and honesty, an underdeveloped self-concept, and a fear of personal growth. It can be seen as a representation of poor psychological well-being. Research has found that psychological distress in long-distance relationships can cause relationship stress and lead to increased anxiety, depression, sleep problems, pain, decreased physical functioning, and lower satisfaction with social role participation [12].

Psychological well-being can be understood as a state where individuals accept everything within themselves and exhibit self-control in their surroundings. They are capable of building relationships with others and their social environment even in challenging circumstances [43]. In this context, college students in LDRs face and navigate through complex conditions [10]. This requires them to maintain and motivate their partners effectively, allowing the relationship to endure [46].

Psychological well-being in individuals is formed from six dimensions [43]. The first dimension is autonomy, referring to the ability to be independent in performing tasks and responsibilities, which is particularly relevant for college students in LDRs. The second is environmental mastery, which pertains to the ability to cope with various environmental demands, including those different from their partner's environment. The third is personal growth, involving the ability to continue growing as an individual despite facing challenges while being in a distant relationship. The fourth is positive relations with others, which refers to the ability to maintain positive relationships with others even in the context of an LDR. The fifth is purpose in life, encompassing the ability to maintain and pursue life goals while navigating the challenges of a distant relationship. The sixth is self-acceptance, involving positive recognition and acceptance of oneself, including both positive and negative aspects, as well as the conditions experienced as a college student in an LDR [43].

College students in LDRs need to have a strong sense of psychological well-being, cause low psychological well-being tends to exhibit low self-esteem and emotional instability [34]. In turn, it might contribute to less positive relationship experiences [16] and indicate their higher psychological vulnerability [30]. Furthermore, it can lead to mental health problems such as elevated levels of depression and anxiety that hinder their lives as students [42]. Conversely, high psychological well-being tends to promote positive self-attitudes, independence in learning, positive social relationships with others, a sense of purpose in life, and optimal personal development [18].

The attainment of psychological well-being doesn't occur automatically but is influenced by various factors according to Ryff including age, gender, socioeconomic status, culture, social support, evaluation of life experience, and locus of control (LOC) [2] well as commitment [47]. This study aims to focus on the context of commitment in LDRs experienced by college students. This is manifested through a high dedication to the relationship, belief in the partner, and a commitment to achieving common goals [4; 5]. Commitment is a cornerstone for successful relationships amidst the complexity of potential conflicts.

Commitment refers to the fundamental reasons individuals participate in a romantic relationship, motivating them to engage and find ways to sustain the relationship [36]. Commitment is crucial for romantic relationships as it closely relates to individual sacrifices [28] in building communication and trust in their partners [50]. This enables individuals to navigate the dynamics of a long-distance relationship. Commitment has two aspects: dedication, which represents the desire to remain united and committed to the partner, and constraint commitment, which is associated with factors that contribute to the longevity of a relationship [36]. Individuals with low commitment in a relationship are likely to have reduced interactions with their partners, which can predict potential separation [21]. Conversely, individuals with high commitment in a relationship tend to develop a strong psychological connection with their partners, enabling them to actively engage and maintain the relationship over a long period [45].

College students in LDRs are susceptible to conditions that can lead to conflicts affecting the success of their relationship [32]. Therefore, college students in LDRs need to understand themselves and possess strong commitment. Commitment forms the foundation of a relationship and is crucial in maintaining the psychological well-being of college students in LDRs. When individuals have strong commitment, they can proactively prevent and reduce depression symptoms related to anxiety levels [1]. Low commitment, on the other hand, can disrupt an individual's psychological well-being, as it is associated with inconsistent behavior maintenance for relationship satisfaction [27].

A study conducted by Tan, Ho, and Agnew [47] found a significant positive relationship (p=0,003) between commitment and psychological well-being, particularly related to conflict management for relationship maintenance. Another study by Agnew, Hadden, and Tan [3] demonstrated a positive relationship between commitment and psychological well-being, particularly in terms of predicting maintenance processes (self-disclosure, accommodation, sacrifice), leave behavior, and readiness for commitment within ongoing involvements (p=0,001). However, the study by Cassepp-Borges et al [17] did not find a direct relationship between commitment and psychological well-being, but commitment remains a factor that mediates relationship satisfaction. College students in LDRs may experience relationship-related stress, although this may not directly affect health and psychological well-being. Therefore, the phenomenon of LDRs with their positive and negative impacts presents an area of focus that warrants investigation. This could lead to the development of resources that can support college students in LDRs amidst the increasing cases and holistic phenomena that affect individuals, their partners, and their surroundings.

Thus, this study aims to explore the relationship between commitment and psychological well-being among college students in long-distance relationships. This research hypothesizes that there is a positive relationship between commitment and psychological well-being among college students in LDRs. Higher commitment levels among college students in LDRs are associated with higher levels of psychological well-being. Conversely, lower commitment levels are linked to lower levels of psychological well-being among college students in LDRs.

Method

Participants

The population in this study are students in Indonesia who undergo LDR because of higher education pursued outside the city or the island. The sampling technique uses accidental samples with the criteria, of active students aged 18-24 years who are undergoing LDR, and the length of undergoing LDR is at least 6 months. The data that has been collected resulted in 587 participants who fit the criteria. All research participants were first asked to fill out an informed consent sheet related to research procedures based on the Indonesian Psychological Association code of ethics. Inform consent contains statements about the description of the research and the involvement of participants. In addition, participants chose the option to agree (if willing) and ignore or leave blank (if refusing participation). If willing, then participants were directed to fill in their identity and continued with filling in the research scale. The overall demographic data of the participants are presented in table 1.

Таble 1. Demographic Data of Participants

Participant Classification

Information

Frequency

Percentage

Gender

Male

97

16.5

Female

490

83.5

Age

18 years old

37

6.3

19 years old

108

18.4

20 years old

151

25.7

21 years old

123

21

22 years old

84

14.3

23 years old

55

9.4

24 years old

29

4.9

Length of LDRs

<1 year

80

13.6

1 year

85

14.5

2 year

92

15.7

3 year

111

18.9

4 year

115

19.6

5 year

48

8.2

6 year

30

5.1

7 year

26

4.4

Procedure

Measurements in the study used two psychological scales, namely the commitment scale and the psychological well-being scale. Before the scales were distributed, the construct validity test was first carried out, and the content validity test, namely through expert judgment conducted by two experts (1 expert in the field of psychology and 1 expert in the field of language). After that, the research design was presented to be assessed for feasibility by three reviewers. The next stage, licensing and making informed consent sheets was carried out. The research was done in the form of a questionnaire distributed in the form of a Google form.

Instruments

Commitment Scale

The commitment scale was measured using The Revised Commitment Inventory based on the commitment aspects by Owen et al [36], which include dedication and constraint commitment. This scale was then translated by the researcher into Indonesian and adjusted based on the participants' context. The commitment scale consists of 25 items with both favorable and unfavorable statements. An example item from this scale is: "I want this relationship to endure, regardless of the difficult times we face". The response options for this scale use a Likert scale model with four response categories: Very Appropriate (VA), Approriate (A), Not Approriate (NA), and Very Inapproriate (VI). The Cronbach’s Alphas for dedication and constraint commitment are 0,855 and 0,863, respectively.

Psychological Well-being Scale

The psychological well-being scale was measured using the Ryff Scale of Psychological Well-being (SPWB), based on the psychological well-being dimensions by Ryff [43]. These dimensions include autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. The psychological well-being scale consists of 38 items with both favorable and unfavorable statements. An example item from this scale is "I am confident in my opinions even when they differ from my partner's opinions". The response options for this scale use a Likert scale model with six response choices: Very Approriate (VA), Approriate (A), Quite Approriate (QA), Less Approriate (LA), Not Approriate (NA), and Very Inapproriate (VI). Cronbach’s Alpha values for all dimensions of psychological well-being raged from 0,889-0,892.

Results

The raw data collected via Google Form (online) were validated and analyzed using SPSS 21. The means, standard deviations (SD), and Pearson’s product-moment correlation of coefficients were calculated between commitment and dimension of psychological well-being among students who are undergoing LDRs and are presented in tables 2 and 3.

From the Pearson product-moment correlation test (table 2), it is found that the correlation coefficient between commitment and psychological well-being is 0,987 (p=0,000), signifying a significant positive relationship between commitment and psychological well-being among students in LDRs. This demonstrates that commitment is a strong influencing factor in psychological well-being among students in LDRs.

Table 2. Correlation between Commitment and Psychological Well-being

 

 

Psychological Well-being

Commitment

Pearson Correlation

0.987**

Sig. (1-tailed)

0.000

N

587

Note: **p<0,01 level of significance, *p<0,05 level of significance.

Furthermore, based on the results of the correlation test between each aspect of commitment with each of the dimensions of psychological well-being in Table 3, it show that the dedication aspect is significantly positively related to all dimensions of psychological well-being because it has a significance value of less than 0,01. Likewise, the constraint commitment aspect has a significant positive relationship with all dimensions of psychological well-being (p<0,01). The results of dedication and constraint commitment are so similar because both of them may have an impact on psychological well-being. The difference is that dedication focuses on individual intrinsic desires while commitment constraints focus on external factors that can influence the individual. However, constraint commitment alone is not sufficient to maintain a healthy relationship, and it has historically been far less associated with relationship quality than dedication is.

Table 3. Correlation between Aspects of Commitment and Dimensions of Psychological Well-being

 

Mean (SD)

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Dedication

29.45 (4.747)

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Constraint Commitment

43.16 (5.388)

0.753**

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autonomy

13.89 (3.578)

0.634**

0.637**

1

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental mastery

14.42 (3.924)

0.755**

0.756**

0.554**

1

 

 

 

 

Personal growth

11.41 (3.733)

0.739**

0.755**

0.440**

0.620**

1

 

 

 

Positive relation with others

11.79 (3.868)

0.677**

0.665**

0.414**

0.546**

0.483**

1

 

 

Purpose in life

13.55 (5.254)

0.719**

0.730**

0.335**

0.523**

0.696**

0.451**

1

 

Self-acceptance

15.94 (4.366)

0.712**

0.735**

0.499**

0.550**

0.548**

0.492**

0.524**

1

Note: **p<0,01 level of significance, *p<0,05 level of significance.

The data in table 4 shows that commitment as a significant predictor of psychological well-being in students undergoing LDRs. Adjusted R2 is found to be 0,974, indicating that commitment explains 97,4% of the variance in psychological well-being.

Table 4. Regression Analysis of Commitment and Psychological Well-being among Students in LDRs

Criterion

Predictors

β (Unstandardized coefficients)

β (Standardized coefficients)

t value

Psychological Well-being

Commitment

2.055

0.987

147.460**

Note: R2=0,974, Adjusted R2=0,974, **p<0,01 level.

Furthermore, specifically the data in table 5 shows that:

  1. Dedication and constraint commitment are the significant predictors of autonomy. Adjusted R2 is found to be 0,460, indicating that dedication and constraint commitment explain 46% of the variance in autonomy.
  2. Dedication and constraint commitment are the significant predictors of environmental mastery. Adjusted R2 is found to be 0,651, indicating that dedication and constraint commitment explain 65,1% of the variance in environmental mastery.
  3. Dedication and constraint commitment are the significant predictors of personal growth. Adjusted R2 is found to be 0,636, indicating that dedication and constraint commitment explain 63,6% of the variance in personal growth.
  4. Dedication and constraint commitment are the significant predictors of positive relation with others. Adjusted R2 is found to be 0,512, indicating that dedication and constraint commitment explain 51,2% of the variance in positive relation with others.
  5. Dedication and constraint commitment are the significant predictors of purpose in life. Adjusted R2 is found to be 0,598, indicating that dedication and constraint commitment explain 59,8% of the variance in purpose in life.
  6. Dedication and constraint commitment are the significant predictors of self-acceptance. Adjusted R2 is found to be 0,597, indicating that dedication and constraint commitment explain 59,7% of the variance in self-acceptance.

An interesting finding from the regression analysis is that individuals who have good dedication will be encouraged to continue to unite and maintain trust with their partners during LDRs which lead to positive achievement of each dimension of psychological well-being formed in love life as a form of responsibility from a dating relationship. In addition, the results show that individuals can make positive things that can be the reason for the relationship to last during LDRs.

Table 5. Regression Analysis Aspects of Commitment and Dimension of Psychological Well-being among Students in LDRs

Criterion

Predictors

β (Unstandardized coefficients)

β (Standardized coefficients)

t value

Model 1: Autonomy

Dedication

0.268

0.356

7.720**

Constraint Commitment

0.245

0.370

8.011**

Model 2: Environmental mastery

Dedication

0.355

0.429

11.572**

Constraint Commitment

0.316

0.433

11.692**

Model 3: Personal growth

Dedication

0.311

0.395

10.437**

Constraint Commitment

0.317

0.457

12.085**

Model 4: Positive relation with others

Dedication

0.331

0.406

9.271**

Constraint Commitment

0.258

0.359

8.194**

Model 5: Purpose in life

Dedication

0.435

0.393

9.868**

Constraint Commitment

0.423

0.434

10.907**

Model 6: Self-acceptance

Dedication

0.336

0.366

9.181**

Constraint Commitment

0.372

0.460

11.535**

Note: Model 1. R2=0,461, Adjusted R2=0,460, **p<0,01 level, Model 2. R2=0,652, Adjusted R2=0,651, **p<0,01 level, Model 3. R2=0,637, Adjusted R2=0,636, **p<0,01 level, Model 4. R2=0,514, Adjusted R2=0,512, **p<0,01 level, Model 5. R2=0,599, Adjusted R2=0,598, **p<0,01 level, Model 6. R2=0,598, Adjusted R2=0,597, **p<0,01 level.

The clustering results in table 6, show that most men's commitment is in the moderate category (N=44/45,5%), and women in the high category (N=251/51,2%). For psychological well-being, most males were in the low category (N=49/50,5%), and females in the high category (N=262/53,5%).

Based on age, the commitment of most 18-year-old participants is in the low category (N=18/48,7%), 19-year-olds in the low category (N=53/49,1%), 20-year-old participants in the medium category (N=58/38,4%), 21-year-olds in the high category (N=59/48%), 22-year-olds in the high category (N=30/35,7%), 23-year-olds in the high category (N=23/41,8%), and 24-year-olds in the high category (N=18/62,1%). For the achievement of psychological well-being, most of the 18-year-old participants were in the low category (N=22/59,5%), 19-year-olds in the low category (N=57/42,8%), 20-year-old participants in the medium category (N=62/41,1%), 21-year-olds in the high category (N=66/53,7%), 22-year-olds in the high category (N=32/38,1%), 23-year-olds in the high category (N=24/43,6%), and 24-year-olds in the high category (N=17/58,6%).

Furthermore, from the length of undergoing LDR commitment, most participants who underwent LDRs for less than one year were in the low category (N=29/36,2%), age 1 year in the medium category (N=35/41,2%), participants age 2 years in the high category (N=46/50%), age 3 years in the high category (N=68/61,3%), age 4 years in the high category (N=66/57,4%), age 5 years in the high category (N=41/85,4%), age 6 years in the high category (N=27/90%), and age 7 years in the high category (N=26/100%). For the achievement of psychological well-being, most participants who underwent LDRs for less than one year were in the low category (N=33/41,2%), aged 1 year in the medium category (N=36/42,4%), participants aged 2 years in the high category (N=41/44,6%), age 3 years in the high category (N=65/58,6%), age 4 years in the high category (N=67/58,2%), age 5 years in the high category (N=37/77,1%), age 6 years in the high category (N=24/80%), and age 7 years in the high category (N=25/96,2%).

Table 6. Clustering Commitment and Psychological Well-being Based on Demographic Data

 

Description

Commitment

Psychological Well-being

Low

Medium

High

Low

Medium

High

N

%

N

%

N

%

N

%

N

%

N

%

Gender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Male

17

17.5

44

45.4

36

37.1

49

50.5

38

39.2

10

10.3

Female

50

10.2

189

38.6

251

51.2

84

17.1

144

29.4

262

53.5

Age

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18 years old

18

48.7

11

29.7

8

21.6

22

59,5

12

32.4

3

8.1

19 years old

53

49.1

37

34,2

18

16,7

57

52.8

41

38

10

9.2

20 years old

46

30.5

58

38.4

47

31.1

41

27.1

62

41,1

48

31.8

21 years old

23

18.7

41

33.3

59

48

18

14.6

39

31.7

66

53.7

22 years old

25

29.8

29

34.5

30

35.7

24

28.6

28

33.3

32

38.1

23 years old

15

27.3

17

30.9

23

41.8

12

21.8

19

34.6

24

43.6

24 years old

5

17.2

6

20.7

18

62.1

4

13.8

8

27.6

17

58.6

Length of LDRs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

<1 year

29

36.2

27

33.8

24

30

33

41.2

29

36.3

18

22.5

1 year

32

37.6

35

41.2

18

21.2

29

34.1

36

42.4

20

23.5

2 year

2

2.2

44

47.8

46

50

21

22.8

30

32.6

41

44.6

3 year

6

5.4

37

33.3

68

61.3

7

6.3

39

35.1

65

58.6

4 year

15

13

34

29.6

66

57.4

21

18.3

27

23.5

67

58.2

5 year

2

4.2

5

10.4

41

85.4

2

4.2

9

18.7

37

77.1

6 year

1

3.3

2

6.7

27

90

1

3.3

5

16.7

24

80

7 year

0

0

0

0

26

100

0

0

1

3.8

25

96.2

Note: N = Frequency, % = Percentage.

Discussion

Based on the conducted research regarding the relationship between commitment and psychological well-being among students in LDRs, the following results indicate a strong and significant positive relationship between the independent variable (commitment) and the dependent variable (psychological well-being). This suggests that an increase in commitment corresponds to an increase in psychological well-being among students in LDRs. This finding is consistent with the study by Du Bois et al. [12], which asserts that commitment to maintaining a relationship in LDRs predicts an individual's psychological well-being.

The research findings imply that the psychological well-being of students in LDRs is influenced by their level of commitment. The descriptive analysis indicates that commitment contributes significantly, accounting for 97,4% of the effective contribution. This indicates that commitment is a strong factor influencing the increase in psychological well-being among students in LDRs. A research [15] found that commitment in LDRs has an impact on psychological well-being, by investigating the mechanisms that explain relationship quality and attachment between partners. Additionally, the study by Tran, Judge, and Kashima [49] supports the notion that commitment is essential for psychological well-being, as it correlates with an individual's satisfaction.

The research results demonstrate that students who maintain commitment in LDRs possess a high level of autonomy. This enables them to focus on their academics while separated from their partners and then shift their focus back to their relationship upon reuniting. This finding aligns with the study by Kluwer et al [31], suggesting that high autonomy leads to good adaptive behavior and motivates relationship behavior. Furthermore, the research reveals that high commitment in LDRs is associated with a high level of environmental mastery. In this case related to human adaptation and human responses to environmental [11; 38], which could reduce the likelihood of relationship dissolution, which could have negative effects on individuals.

The study also highlights that committed students in LDRs have a relatively strong capacity for personal growth. This is in line with the findings of Borowa et al [14], which suggest that individuals are ready to commit because they have a good understanding of personal reflection experiences that provide insight into individual and relational needs. Consequently, individuals can maintain existing relationships while remaining open to new experiences.

Hatamleh et al [26] assert that individuals committed to relationships are vital for nurturing strong and enduring relationships among individuals which aid in adaptation and allow them to build social relationships with others. This is consistent with the findings of this study, as students committed to LDRs exhibit a high ability to develop positive relationships with others. The idea that commitment in LDRs contributes to the development of strong relationships within groups [39].

The research further indicates that committed students in LDRs tend to have high levels of self-acceptance. This internal commitment helps build self-concept clarity to face conflicts and difficulties in the relationship, providing emotional stability to sustain a better-quality relationship [20]. On the other hand, the study identifies that committed students in LDRs have low levels of shared purpose in life. This may be attributed to factors preventing these students from having a clear sense of life purpose. Research suggests that lack of trust has also been associated with low emotionality, physical, and other forms of sacrifice that may cause conflict as a form of disagreement or contradiction due to differences in goals, aspirations, values, and daily life problems [6]. Research from Bald and Sirsch [8] similarly found that diverse experiences in LDRs can shift an individual's focus to personal goals, altering their future relationship orientation.

In conclusion, it can be inferred that higher commitment among students in LDRs correlates with higher psychological well-being. Therefore, committed students in LDRs are capable of maintaining their relationships while actively fulfilling their academic roles. This conclusion is supported by the significant positive relationship between commitment and psychological well-being found in the research. An interesting insight from this study is that the presence of commitment in students engaged in LDRs does not always translate to a strong sense of shared life purpose. This is evident from the finding that 39,5% of participants exhibited low levels of shared life purpose.

While the research was conducted following proper procedures, it is acknowledged that limitations were encountered during its execution. Many participants inquired about the alignment of their status with the set criteria, which overwhelmed the researchers and led to difficulties in providing individual responses.

Conclusion

Based on the conducted research, it can be concluded that there is a significant positive relationship between commitment and psychological well-being among students in LDRs. Specifically, the level of commitment was categorized as high, while the level of psychological well-being was categorized as moderate. More specifically, it can be concluded that commitment has a significant positive relationship with each dimension of psychological well-being among students in LDRs. This study also demonstrates that the commitment variable contributes 97,4% to psychological well-being. Thus, commitment emerges as a very strong factor influencing the psychological well-being of students in LDRs.

For future researchers, it is suggested to further explore and investigate the life purpose of students in LDRs, as well as to identify other factors that influence psychological well-being among individuals in such relationships. This could provide deeper insights into the interplay of various factors and their impact on the well-being of individuals in LDR.

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Information About the Authors

Sabathania G. Welvart, Bachelor of Psychology, Satya Wacana Christian University, Indonesia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8087-576X, e-mail: thaniawelvart01@gmail.com

Arthur Huwae, Master of Psychology, Lecturer at Faculty of Psychology, Satya Wacana Christian University, Indonesia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2918-3309, e-mail: arthur.huwae@uksw.edu

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