Romantic Partner Monitoring After Breakups: Attachment, Dependence, Distress, and Postdissolution Surveillance on Social Networking Sites

• In Event: Interpersonal Relationships on Social Media: How Social Media Mediate

Abstract

Romantic relationship dissolution can be a stressful experience, and in the age of social networking sites and connectivity, it can be difficult to separate from a romantic partner. We conducted an online survey (N = 431) to examine the role of attachment, relational variables, and emotional distress as a result of a breakup in predicting interpersonal electronic surveillance (i.e., “Facebook stalking”) of one’s ex-partner on Facebook. Anxious attachment predicted investment in the relationship but also seeking alternatives; avoidant attachment was negatively related to investment, but positively related to seeking alternatives. Investment predicted commitment to the relationship whereas seeking alternatives was negatively related to commitment. Commitment to the relationship predicted emotional distress after the breakup, which in turn predicted partner monitoring immediately following the breakup as well as current partner monitoring. We discuss the implications for healthy and unhealthy relationship maintenance via social media after relationship termination.

Authors

• Jesse Fox, Ohio State U

• Robert Shota Tokunaga, U of Hawaii at Manoa