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Navigating “Breakup Remorse”: Implications for Disrupting the On‐Again/Off‐Again Cycles in Young Adult Dating Relationships
Author(s) -
WashburnBusk Michelle,
Vennum Amber,
McAllister Paige,
Busk Paul
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/jmft.12425
Subject(s) - distress , psychology , psychological intervention , psychological resilience , social psychology , remorse , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry
While the research is clear on the risks for distress associated with on‐again, off‐again romantic relationships (i.e., cyclical relationships), little is known about the change mechanisms experienced by partners in cyclical relationships or how helping professionals can assist young adults stably continue or end these relationships. Young adults ( N = 21) in different stages of cyclical relationships (renewed, ended, or contemplating renewal) attended focus groups and articulated specific mechanisms that influenced their ability to make distress‐reducing decisions. Main themes for professionals working with partners in cyclical relationships centered on promoting “decision‐making resilience,” which included addressing issues around identity development, communication, power/control dynamics, and intentionality. These results inform assessments and interventions to bolster resilience and reduce distress for cyclical couples.