Coping with post‐traumatic stress symptoms following relationship dissolution

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to investigate the relationship between post-traumatic stress symptoms resulting from relationship dissolution and coping style. The hypothesis was that some degree of post-traumatic stress symptoms would be evident among the sample and that the coping strategies of seeking social support, escape-avoidance, self-controlling and accepting responsibility would be associated with such symptoms. Eighty-eight university students who had experienced the dissolution of a romantic relationship over the preceding 24 months participated in the research. They were interviewed using the Impact of Event Scale (IES), the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WOC). The results showed that the mean score of intrusion was slightly higher than that of avoidance. The sample scored significantly higher in the IES items than one standardized sample of medical students but significantly lower in intrusion than another standardized sample of clinical patients. Fifty-one per cent of the sample scored above the cut-off of the GHQ. The results also showed that both intrusion and avoidance were significantly correlated with all GHQ items. The sample used the self-controlling coping strategy the most, followed by escape-avoidance and positive reappraisal. The sample also employed coping strategies of distancing and seeking social support. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that escape-avoidance, distancing, seeking social support and planful problem solving were significant predictors to the IES total. Escape-avoidance and accepting responsibility were significant predictors to the IES intrusion. Escape-avoidance and distancing were significant predictors to the IES avoidance. Escape-avoidance was the only significant predictor to the GHQ total.

Coping and psychological distress among head and neck cancer patients

“…The standard deviation for the Ways of Coping Checklist domains scores varied in the literature with different patients population (62)(63)(64). The sample size calculation is based on the hypothesis that head and neck cancer patients with low levels of anxiety or depression use different coping skills compared to those with high levels of anxiety or depression 6-12 months following the diagnosis of their cancer.…”

The Experience of Relationship Dissolution among British South Asian Gay Men: Identity Threat and Protection

“…At a basic level, the social and psychological transition to singledom requires adjustment to a new, or at least altered, identity (Amato, 2000), which is most obviously threatening for one's sense of continuity. Relationship dissolution has been associated with emotional experiences such as hurt, frustration, grief and depression (Chung et al, 2003). There is some evidence that in the immediate aftermath of relationship dissolution individuals may experience depressive symptoms, which can either gradually wane or develop into full-blown depression (Park et al, 2011;Rhoades et al, 2011).…”

“…In the context of heterosexual couples, it has been noted that the dissolution of a romantic relationship can often be experienced as a highly stressful and sometimes psychologically traumatic event (Chung et al, 2003). At a basic level, the social and psychological transition to singledom requires adjustment to a new, or at least altered, identity (Amato, 2000), which is most obviously threatening for one's sense of continuity.…”

Emotional and Cognitive Coping in Relationship Dissolution

“…Chung et al (2003) found that after relationship breakups, participants displayed as much avoidance as a clinical comparison sample. Additionally, Lepore and Greenberg (2002) found that avoidance strategies after breakups were related to short-term increase in upper respiratory symptoms in a control group.…”

“…Rumination and avoidance are symptoms associated with DSM-IV recognized disorders, namely depression, PTSD, and anxiety (Blalock & Joiner, 2000;Nolen-Hoeksema, 1991). Chung et al (2003) demonstrated that participants who had experienced a breakup showed avoidance at significantly higher levels than medical students, historically a stressed sample.…”