Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Articles
DOI: 10.32806/jkpi.v7i3.1942
Submitted: 09-06-2026
Published: 08-07-2026

EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCE AND THE ON-AND-OFF PHENOMENON: A CASE STUDY OF EARLY ADULT COLLEGE STUDENTS' DATING RELATIONSHIPS

UIN Sumatera Utara
UIN Sumatera Utara
Emotional Dependency, On-And-Off Relationships, Romantic Relationships

Abstract

This study aims to understand emotional dependency in dating relationships and its association with the on-and-off relationship phenomenon among students of Islamic Guidance and Counseling (Bimbingan dan Penyuluhan Islam), cohort 2022. This research employs a qualitative approach with a case study design involving students who have experienced and are currently in on-and-off relationships. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation. The findings indicate that partners are perceived as the primary source of emotional support, security, and a place to share problems. Strong emotional attachment makes individuals feel comfortable with their partners, but also leads to anxiety when attention or communication decreases. This condition encourages individuals to maintain the relationship despite frequent conflicts, resulting in an on-and-off relationship pattern. The study shows that emotional dependency plays a role in sustaining unstable relationship dynamics among students.

References

  1. Arikunto, S. (2021). Prosedur penelitian: Suatu pendekatan praktik. Jakarta: Rineka Cipta.
  2. Ben-Ze’ev, A. (2024). In Defense of Moderate Romantic Curiosity and Information Avoidance: A Conceptual Outlook of Balanced Curiosity. The Journal of Psychology, 158(1), 47-63. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00223980.2023.2253970
  3. Blackburn, K. G., LeFebvre, L. E., & Brody, N. (2024). How will your relationship be remembered?: virtual relational curation following a breakup. Information, Communication & Society, 27(3), 561-582. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2023.2223257
  4. Busk, M. W., Vennum, A., McAllister, P., & Busk, P. (2020). Navigating “Breakup Remorse”: Implications for Disrupting the On-Again/Off-Again Cycles in Young Adult Dating Relationships. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 46(3), 413-430. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12425
  5. Charvat, E. J., Rosner, C. L., Monk, J. K., & Colaner, C. W. (2023). The intergenerational transmission of relationship instability: A focus on emerging adult on-off relationships. Family Process, 62(1), 423-441. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12765
  6. Creswell, J. W. (2024). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
  7. Dailey, R. M., Zhong, L., Pett, R., Scott, D., & Krawietz, C. (2019). Investigating relationship dispositions as explanations for on-again/off-again relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37(1), 68-96. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519861156
  8. Dunn, M. D. (2022). “I have a certain standard:” HBCU women's heterosexual aspirations and identity negotiation. Journal of Marriage and Family, 84(5), 1487-1506. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12860
  9. Eastwick, P. W., & Joel, S. (2025). How Do People Feel About Mates? Annual Review of Psychology, 76(1), 385-412. doi:https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-012224-025712
  10. Eastwick, P. W., Finkel, E. J., & Joel, S. (2023). Mate evaluation theory. Psychological Review, 130(1), 211–241. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000360
  11. Farrokhi, F., Zohrabi, M., & Azarberis, A. G. (2023). A Sociocognitive Account of Willingness to Communicate from the Perspective of Complex Dynamic Systems Theory. Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 36(1), 35-54. Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1409148
  12. Furlong, C., & Hinnant, B. (2024). Sex trafficking vulnerabilities in context: An analysis of 1,264 case files of adult survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. PLoS ONE, 19(11), e0311131. doi:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0311131
  13. Gaver, W., & Gaver, F. (2023). Living with Light Touch: An Autoethnography of a Simple Communication Device in Long-Term Use. CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, 63(3), 1-14. doi:https://doi.org/10.1145/3544548.3580807
  14. Hoffman, S., Ward, K. P., Rueda, H. A., & Beasley, L. (2024). Childhood Family Transitions and Adolescent Dating Behaviors: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 33(1), 2238–2250. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10826-023-02758-y
  15. Joel, S., & MacDonald, G. (2021). We’re Not That Choosy: Emerging Evidence of a Progression Bias in Romantic Relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 25(4), 317-343. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/10888683211025860
  16. Katz, C. C., Okpych, N. J., Charles, P., Wall, E., & Courtney, M. E. (2023). Prevalence and Predictors of Intimate Partner Violence Among Youth With Foster Care Histories. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(1), 98-117. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605231175910
  17. Leckfor, C. M., Wood, N. R., Wood, N. R., & Hales, A. H. (2023). From Close to Ghost: Examining the Relationship Between the Need for Closure, Intentions to Ghost, and Reactions to Being Ghosted. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(8), 1-22. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075221149955
  18. LeFebvre, L. E., & Carmack, H. J. (2019). Catching feelings: Exploring commitment (un)readiness in emerging adulthood. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37(1), 1-18. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407519857472
  19. LeFebvre, L. E., Rasner, R. D., Kickert, C.-J., McLelland, B., Owen, E., & Iyer, A. (2022). Conceptualizing the Friendzone Phenomenon. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 42(1), 25-47. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/02762366221077416
  20. Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. New York: Sage Publications.
  21. Machia, L. V., Niehuis, S., & Joel, S. (2023). Breaking-up is hard to study: A review of two decades of dissolution research. Personal Relationships, 30(1), 113-143. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12437
  22. Marganski, A. J., Melander, L. A., & DeKeseredy, W. S. (2021). Single, Repeat, and Poly Intimate Partner Violence Victimization among Women at a College Campus: Extending Research Through the Inclusion of Technology-Facilitated Violence and Examining Key Social Determinants for Intimate Partner Violence Prevention. Violence Against Women, 28(12), 43-67. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/10778012211037376
  23. Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2024). Qualitative data analysis: A methods sourcebook (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
  24. Soloway, T. S., Gica, R., & Langlais, M. R. (2025). To Break or Not to Break?: Understanding the Motivations and Consequences of Taking Breaks in Romantic Relationships. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 24(1), 1-23. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2024.2406828
  25. Song, C. (2025). How Is Love Recognised? A Theoretical Model of Love Confirmation Mechanisms in Romantic Relationships. Foundations and Frontiers: Interdisciplinary Explorations in Law, Psychology, and Communication, 1(1), 199-223. doi:10.63802/jlpcs.v1.i1.56
  26. Sugiyono. (2024). Metode penelitian kuantitatif, kualitatif, dan R&D. Bandung: Alfabeta.
  27. Uçar, S., & Demir, İ. (2022). Exploring Romantic Relationship Patterns among Turkish Emerging Adults: A Grounded Theory Study. Emerging Adulthood, 11(1), 1-21. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968221094751
  28. Yin, R. K. (2024). Case study research: Design and methods (5th ed.). New Delhi, India: SAGE Publications.

How to Cite

Rahmah, L., & Mutiawati, M. (2026). EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCE AND THE ON-AND-OFF PHENOMENON: A CASE STUDY OF EARLY ADULT COLLEGE STUDENTS’ DATING RELATIONSHIPS. Jurnal Konseling Pendidikan Islam, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.32806/jkpi.v7i3.1942