Exploring Why and How Friendships End: Associations with Satisfaction, Invested Commitment, and Quality of Alternatives

This study employs concepts from the investment model to better understand how and why friends end their relationships. Participants (N = 323) completed a questionnaire about a friendship breakup. High invested commitment (a concept that combines investment and commitment), low friendship satisfaction, and having good alternatives were associated with believing a friendship ended because of something internal, such as a transgression or conflict. Four breakup behaviors were also investigated. The mutual fade-out was associated with high satisfaction, low invested commitment, and the friendship ending due to external factors. Ghosting a friend was associated with low invested commitment and the friendship ending due to internal struggles or a partner transgressing. Being ghosted by a friend was associated with a partner transgressing. Finally, open confrontation was associated with the friendship ending due to internal struggles or a partner transgressing.