RESEARCH_FILE
Justin J. Lehmiller
Purdue University (at time of key publications)
Known for:Research on perceived marginalization and commitment in stigmatized romantic relationships, including age-gap couples
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“Their friends their own age are a threat to us”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“The clock is something I hear because I'm afraid—not because they're actually counting down.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
Write down three moments from the past week when the threat felt highest. For each one, note what actually happened next. Did the feared outcome occur, or did the person come home and nothing had changed?
Key findings
- 2006
With Christopher Agnew, found perceived social disapproval to be a significant negative predictor of commitment across stigmatized relationship types, and that partners in disapproved relationships invest less as self-protection. Marginalized Relationships: The Impact of Social Disapproval on Romantic Relationship Commitment ↗
- 2007
In a 7-month longitudinal study of 215 people, found perceived marginalization at Time 1 predicted breakup by Time 2, with the effect fully mediated by a decline in commitment. Perceived Marginalization and the Prediction of Romantic Relationship Stability ↗
- 2008
With Agnew, tested evolutionary versus sociocultural predictions in age-gap heterosexual couples directly, finding commitment levels matching or exceeding same-age couples — evidence against the idea that a gap is inherently more fragile. Commitment in Age-Gap Heterosexual Romantic Relationships: A Test of Evolutionary and Socio-Cultural Predictions ↗