We Are Together, but How Much Are We Truly ‘We’?: A Dyadic Approach With Turkish Emerging Adults

This study examines the dynamics of romantic relationships among Turkish emerging adults, with a focus on the concept of “we-ness”—a shared sense of identity within a couple. The research employs the investment model, focusing on the mediator role of commitment in the association between the bases of dependence (satisfaction, quality of alternatives, investment size) and we-ness. Participants included 149 couples ( n = 298) aged 18–29. Investment Model Scale and the We-ness Questionnaire were used to collect the data. Results of the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM) revealed no partner effects but actor effects, particularly highlighting that women’s and men’s relationship satisfaction strongly predicted their commitment and we-ness. Furthermore, commitment was found to mediate the association between relationship satisfaction and we-ness for men. Understanding these factors has practical implications for couple counseling, suggesting the need for tailored interventions that consider gender-specific commitment patterns and the developmental context of emerging adults.