Romantic Partner Monitoring After Breakups: Attachment, Dependence, Distress, and Post-Dissolution Online Surveillance via Social Networking Sites

Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking
Jesse Fox, Robert S Tokunaga

Abstract

Romantic relationship dissolution can be stressful, and social networking sites make it difficult to separate from a romantic partner online as well as offline. An online survey (N = 431) tested a model synthesizing attachment, investment model variables, and post-dissolution emotional distress as predictors of interpersonal surveillance (i.e., "Facebook stalking") of one's ex-partner on Facebook after a breakup. Results indicated that anxious attachment predicted relational investment but also seeking relationship alternatives; avoidant attachment was negatively related to investment but positively related to seeking alternatives. Investment predicted commitment, whereas seeking alternatives was negatively related to commitment. Commitment predicted emotional distress after the breakup. Distress predicted partner monitoring immediately following the breakup, particularly for those who did not initiate the breakup, as well as current partner monitoring. Given their affordances, social media are discussed as potentially unhealthy enablers for online surveillance after relationship termination.

References

Mar 1, 1987·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·C Hazan, P Shaver
Apr 18, 2007·Journal of Personality Assessment·Meifen WeiDavid L Vogel
May 10, 2011·Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking·Rachel A Elphinston, Patricia Noller
Jul 8, 2011·Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking·Amy LyndonAlyssa D Cratty
Oct 5, 2011·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·C Nathan DewallFrank D Fincham
Sep 6, 2012·Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking·Tara C Marshall
Jun 22, 2013·Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking·Stephanie Tom Tong
Aug 21, 2013·Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking·Jesse Fox, Katie M Warber
Oct 15, 2014·Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking·Jesse Fox, Courtney Anderegg
Dec 10, 2014·Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking·Cecilia Cheng, Angel Yee-lam Li

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Citations

Jun 27, 2020·Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking·Katherine M Hertlein, Leonard E van Dyck
Feb 14, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Raúl NavarroBeatriz Víllora
Jan 5, 2021·Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings·A S J van der WattS Seedat
Jun 22, 2021·Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking·Brandon T McDanielMadison Merritt
Jun 29, 2020··Erin L. SpottswoodChristopher J. Carpenter
Jun 8, 2017··Daniel HerronElise van den Hoven
Jul 3, 2018··Robert BreckenridgeHasan M. Jamil

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