From Chris Pratt and Anna Faris to Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry, several celebrity break-ups have shocked Hollywood in 2017.
And a new study suggests that some of these separations may have been fueled by a fear of getting dumped.
Researchers have found that the fear of a relationship ending can lessen love and actually cause a break-up.
From Chris Pratt and Anna Faris (pictured left) to Orlando Bloom and Katy Perry (pictured right), several celebrity break-ups have shocked Hollywood in 2017. And a new study suggests that some of these separations may have been fueled by a fear of getting dumped
Researchers from Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Italy looked at the link between fearing the end of a relationship, and it actually ending.
In the study, participants provided basic information about themselves and the state and dynamics of their relationship.
The researchers then manipulated the participants’ perception that their relationship could end.
Manipulation techniques included providing statistics about the failure of relationships, and giving false feedback to some participants about the chances of their romance ending.
Participants were then asked how committed they were to their relationship, and how they felt towards their partner.
Results showed that participants’ romantic feelings and levels of commitment were more intense where there was no mention made about the possibility that the relationship could end.
But both romance and commitment diminished when participants heard that there was either a high or low risk of a break-up.
Surprisingly, when participants were told there was only a moderate chance that their relationship could end, their commitment was stronger.
The study found that both romance and commitment diminish when people hear that there is either a high or low risk of a break-up (stock image)
The researchers also found that the manipulated risk on romantic commitment affect their feelings of romance.
Ms Simona Sciara, co-author of the study, explained: ‘This shows that, when faced with a “too high” risk of ending the relationship, participants clearly reduced the intensity of their positive feelings towards the romantic partner.’
The researchers believe that the findings could prove useful for psychologists and counsellors when speaking to clients about their romantic relationships.
Dr Giuseppe Pantaleo, co-author of the study, said: ‘Reduced relationship commitment, for instance, leads to dissolution considerations and, thereby, to actual relationship breakup.
‘Relationship breakup, in turn, plays a critical role in the onset of depression, psychological distress, and reduced life satisfaction.’