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Reassessing romantic dependency: Gendered vulnerabilities and cultural realities beyond the Western lens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2026

Mohd Manshoor Ahmed Open the ORCID record for Mohd Manshoor Ahmed [Opens in a new window]  and
Jilly John Open the ORCID record for Jilly John [Opens in a new window]
Mohd Manshoor Ahmed*
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, India ahmed.ssw072106@cukerala.ac.in jillyjohn@cukerala.ac.in https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-manshoor-ahmed-b94b79127/
Jilly John
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod, Kerala, India ahmed.ssw072106@cukerala.ac.in jillyjohn@cukerala.ac.in https://www.linkedin.com/in/mohammad-manshoor-ahmed-b94b79127/
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Through placing emotional dependency within the framework of gendered social roles, structural injustices, and disparities in mental health, this commentary critically examines the assertion that romantic relationships are more significant to men than to women. In order to improve the psychological and cultural depth of the findings, it questions the target article’s Western-centric orientation and promotes the inclusion of non-Western and socioeconomically diverse perspectives.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 49 , 2026 , e89
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press

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