Breaking Up and Bouncing Back: Distress and Post-Breakup Adjustment of Young Adults

Relationship breakups are common yet often distressing events for young adults. Some adjust better than others to the changes following that relationship loss. It is unclear whether rebounding into a new relationship is a helpful distraction or interferes with processing relationship loss. In two studies, we examined whether entering a new relationship shortly after a breakup was linked to individual factors reflecting resiliency and ultimately better adjustment regarding the end of a relationship. Both studies used anonymous online cross-sectional surveys of young adults (18-25 years) who had recently experienced a breakup (single versus in a new relationship). Study 1 (n = 480; 50.2% women) compared groups in terms of individual traits reflective of resiliency (self-esteem and grit) and adjustment (distress, relationship obsessions, and intrusive thoughts). Those who had rebounded into a new relationship (versus remained single) after a breakup reported fewer intrusive thoughts about the past relationship. Study 2 (n = 426; 56.8%) examined whether intrusive relationship thoughts and obsessions were intermediary variables between self-esteem and breakup distress. As in Study 1, those who had experienced a breakup and had rebounded (versus remained single) reported fewer intrusive thoughts about the past relationship. Self-esteem was linked to breakup distress through intrusive thoughts about the relationship loss. Implications relate to education and supports for young people in distress following a breakup.