Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T16:14:30.257Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Coping and Unwanted Pursuit Behaviours Following Breakups in Young Adulthood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 January 2019

Jeffrey E. Foshay Open the ORCID record for Jeffrey E. Foshay [Opens in a new window]  and
Lucia F. O'Sullivan
Jeffrey E. Foshay*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada
Lucia F. O'Sullivan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada
*
Address for correspondence: Jeff Foshay, B.A., Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, E3B 5A3. Email: jfoshay@unb.ca
Get access

Abstract

Unwanted pursuit behaviours (UPBs) comprise repeated and unwanted efforts to establish intimate contact in the form of harassing, tracking, and monitoring. These are common among young adults following the breakup of a romantic relationship, typically by the rejected partner. The relational goal pursuit theory (RGPT) proposes that UPB users overestimate the importance of a relationship to higher-order goals. This study assessed how well a new coping-based approach and the RGPT model predicted UPB frequency and scope. Two hundred participants (50% female; aged 19–24) completed an anonymous online survey. Ruminating was linked to both greater frequency and scope of UPB use. Higher levels of emotion-focused coping and perceived self-efficacy to re-establish intimacy were linked to the use of a wider scope of unwanted pursuit behaviours. Insights gained from UPB users are necessary for understanding mechanisms associated with the turbulent and distressing aftermath of a romantic breakup.

Keywords

copingunwanted pursuit behaviourruminationyoung adultsromantic relationshipsbreakups
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 10 , 2019 , e3
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alexy, E.M., Burgess, A.W., Baker, T., & Smoyak, S.A. (2005). Perceptions of cyberstalking among college students. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 5, 279–289. doi:10.1093/brief-treatment/mhi020Google Scholar
Arnett, J.J. (2000). Emerging adulthood. A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties. American Psychologist, 55, 469–480. doi:10.1037//0003-066X.55.5.469Google Scholar
Bagozzi, R.P. (1992). The self-regulation of attitudes, intentions, and behavior. Social Psychology Quarterly, 55, 178–204. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.hil.unb.ca/docview/212779071/fulltext/Google Scholar
Belu, C.F., Lee, B.H., & O'Sullivan, L.F. (2016). It hurts to let you go: Characteristics of romantic relationships, breakups and the aftermath among emerging adults. Journal of Relationships Research, 7, 1–11. doi:10.1017/jrr.2016.11Google Scholar
Cann, A., Calhoun, L.G., Tedeschi, R.G., Triplett, K.N., Vishnevsky, T., & Lindstrom, C.M. (2011). Assessing posttraumatic cognitive processes: The Event Related Rumination Inventory. Anxiety, Stress & Coping: An International Journal, 24, 137–156. doi:10.1080/10615806.2010.529901Google Scholar
Chung, M.C., Farmer, S., Grant, K., Newton, R., Payne, S., Perry, M., … Stone, N. (2002). Self-esteem, personality and post-traumatic stress symptoms following the dissolution of a dating relationship. Stress and Health, 18, 83–90. doi:10.1002/smi.929Google Scholar
Compas, B.E., Connor-Smith, J.K., Saltzman, H., Thomsen, A.H., & Wadsworth, M.E. (2001). Coping with stress during childhood and adolescence: Problems, progress, and potential in theory and research. Psychological Bulletin, 127(1), 87–127. doi:10.1037/0033-2909.127.1.87Google Scholar
Cupach, W.R., & Spitzberg, B.H. (2004). The Dark Side of Relationship Pursuit: From Attraction to Obsession and Stalking. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.Google Scholar
Cupach, W.R., & Spitzberg, B.H. (2000). Obsessive relational intrusion: Incidence, perceived severity, and coping. Violence and Victims, 15, 357–372.Google Scholar
Cupach, W.R., Spitzberg, B.H., Bolingbroke, C.M., & Tellitocci, B.S. (2011). Persistence of attempts to reconcile a terminated romantic relationship: A partial test of relational goal pursuit theory. Communication Reports, 24, 99–115. doi:10.1080/08934215.2011.613737Google Scholar
Cupach, W.R., Spitzberg, B.H., & Carson, C.L. (2000). Toward a theory of obsessive relational intrusion and stalking. In Dindia, K. & Duck, S. (Eds.), Communication and Personal Relationships (pp. 131–146). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Davis, D., Shaver, P.R., & Vernon, M.V. (2003). Physical, emotional, and behavioral reactions to breaking up. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29, 871–884. doi:10.1177/0146167203029007006Google Scholar
De Smet, O., Buysse, A., & Brondeel, R. (2011). Effect of the breakup context on unwanted pursuit behavior perpetration between former partners. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 56, 934–941. doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2011.01745.xGoogle Scholar
De Smet, O., Uzieblo, K., Loeys, T., Buysse, A., & Onraedt, T. (2015). Unwanted pursuit behavior after breakup: Occurrence, risk factors, and gender differences. Journal of Family Violence, 30, 753–767. doi:10.1007/s10896-015-9687-9Google Scholar
Dutton, L.B., & Winstead, B.A. (2011). Types, frequency, and effectiveness of responses to unwanted pursuit and stalking. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 26, 1129–1156. doi:10.1177/0886260510368153Google Scholar
Endler, N.S., & Parker, J.D.A. (1999). Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS): Manual (2nd ed.). Toronto, Canada: Multi-Health Systems.Google Scholar
Field, T., Diego, M., Pelaez, M., Deeds, O., & Delgado, J. (2009). Breakup distress in university students. Adolescence, 44, 705–727. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.hil.unb.ca/docview/195938934/fulltext/Google Scholar
Fine, M.A., & Sacher, J.A. (1997). Predictors of distress following relationship termination among dating couples. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 16, 381–388. doi:10.1521/jscp.1997.16.4.381Google Scholar
Fox, K.A., Nobles, M.R., & Fisher, B.S. (2011). Method behind the madness: An examination of stalking measurements. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 16, 74–84. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2010.12.004Google Scholar
Frazier, P.A., & Cook, S.W. (1993). Correlates of distress following heterosexual relationship dissolution. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 10, 55–67. doi:10.1177/0265407593101004Google Scholar
Haugaard, J.J., & Seri, L.G. (2004). Stalking and other forms of intrusive contact among adolescents and young adults from the perspective of the person initiating the intrusive contact. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 31, 37–54. doi:10.1177/0093854803259247Google Scholar
Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J., Palarea, R.E., Cohen, J., & Rohling, M.L. (2000). Breaking up is hard to do: Unwanted pursuit behavior following the dissolution of a romantic relationship. Violence and Victims, 15, 73–90.Google Scholar
Lazarus, R.S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Lee, B.H., & O'Sullivan, L.F. (2014). The ex-factor: Characteristics of online and offline post-relationship contact and tracking among Canadian emerging adults. The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 23, 96–105. doi:10.3138/cjhs.2415copiGoogle Scholar
Lee, B.H., & O'Sullivan, L.F. (2018). Ain't misbehavin’?: Monogamy maintenance strategies in heterosexual romantic relationships. Personal Relationships, 25, 205–232.Google Scholar
Martin, L.L., & Tesser, A. (1989). Toward a motivational and structural theory of ruminative thought. In Uleman, J.S. & Bargh, J.A. (Eds.), Unintended thought (pp. 306–326). New York, NY: Guilford.Google Scholar
Mason, W., & Suri, S. (2012). Conducting behavioral research on Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Behavior Research Methods, 44, 1–23. doi:10.3758/s13428-011-0124-6Google Scholar
McEwan, T.E., Mullen, P.E., & Mackenzie, R. (2009). A study of the predictors of persistence in stalking situations. Law and Human Behavior, 33, 149–158. doi:10.1007/s10979-008-9141-0Google Scholar
McIntosh, W.D., & Martin, L.L. (1992). The cybernetics of happiness: The relation of goal attainment, rumination, and affect. In Clark, M.S. (Ed.), Emotion and social behavior (pp. 222–246). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Monroe, S.M., Rohde, P., Seeley, J.R., & Lewinsohn, P.M. (1999). Life events and depression in adolescence: Relationship loss as a prospective risk factor for first onset of major depressive disorder. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 108, 606–614. doi:http://dx.doi.org.proxy.hil.unb.ca/10.1037/0021-843X.108.4.606Google Scholar
Olson, K., O'Brien, M., Rogers, W., & Charness, N. (2011). Diffusion of technology: Frequency of use for younger and older adults. Ageing International, 36, 123–145. doi:10.1007/s12126-010-9077-9Google Scholar
Park, C.L., Cohen, L.H., & Murch, R.L. (1996). Assessment and prediction of stress-related growth. Journal of Personality, 64, 71–105.Google Scholar
Rafnsson, F., Smari, J., Windle, M., Mears, S., & Endler, N. (2006). Factor structure and psychometric characteristics of the Icelandic version of the coping inventory for stressful situations (CISS). Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 1247–1258. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2005.11.011Google Scholar
Salvatore, J.E., Collins, W.A., & Simpson, J.A. (2012). An organizational-developmental perspective on functioning in adult romantic relationships. In Campbell, L. & Loving, T.J. (Eds.), Interdisciplinary research on close relationships: The case for integration (pp. 155–177). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.Google Scholar
Sheridan, L., Gillett, R., Davies, G.M., Blaauw, E., & Patel, D. (2003). ‘There's no smoke without fire’: Are male ex-partners perceived as more ‘entitled’ to stalk than acquaintance or stranger stalkers? British Journal of Psychology, 94, 87–98.Google Scholar
Shorey, R.C., Cornelius, T.L., & Strauss, C. (2015). Stalking in college student dating relationships: A descriptive investigation. Journal of Family Violence, 30, 935–942.Google Scholar
Sinclair, H.C., & Frieze, I.H. (2005). When courtship persistence becomes intrusive pursuit: Comparing rejecter and pursuer perspectives of unrequited attraction. Sex Roles, 52, 839–852. doi:10.1007/s11199-005-4203-4Google Scholar
Smith, S., Roster, C., Golden, L., & Albaum, G. (2016). A multi-group analysis of online survey respondent data quality: Comparing a regular USA consumer panel to mTurk samples. Journal of Business Research, 69, 3139–3148. doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.12.002Google Scholar
Spitzberg, B.H., & Cupach, W.R. (2007). The state of the art of stalking: Taking stock of the emerging literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 12, 64–86. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2006.05.001Google Scholar
Spitzberg, B.H., Marshall, L., & Cupach, W.R. (2001). Obsessive relational intrusion, coping, and sexual coercion victimization. Communication Reports, 14, 19–30. doi:10.1080/08934210109367733Google Scholar
Tabachnick, B.G., & Fidell, L.S. (2018). Using multivariate statistics. Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.Google Scholar
Tashiro, T., & Frazier, P. (2003). ‘I'll never be in a relationship like that again’: Personal growth following relationship breakups. Personal Relationships, 10, 113–128.Google Scholar
Wigman, S.A., Graham-Kevan, N., & Archer, J. (2008). Investigating sub-groups of harassers: The roles of attachment, dependency, jealousy and aggression. Journal of Family Violence, 23, 557–568. doi:10.1007/s10896-008-9171-xGoogle Scholar
Zhang, W., Yan, T., Du, Y., & Liu, X. (2013). Relationship between coping, rumination and posttraumatic growth in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7, 1204–1210. doi:10.1016/j.rasd.2013.07.008Google Scholar