Short-sighted ghosts. Psychological antecedents and consequences of ghosting others within emerging adults’ romantic relationships and friendships

Forrai, Michaela; Koban, Kevin; Matthes, Jörg

doi:10.1016/j.tele.2023.101969

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…Second, the study of breadcrumbing unfolds a certain relational dynamic that might be helpful for psychologists to understand a set of behavioural tendencies. In this sense, research can equip psychotherapists to formulate individual and couples therapy framework in several ways, for example, [ 1 ] identifying clients’ attachment patterns and explore how these patterns impact their behaviour in relationships, [ 2 ] helping clients to establish and maintaining healthy boundaries in their relationships, reducing the risk for breadcrumbing or it potential effects, [ 3 ] support clients in processing breadcrumbing and developing resilience to face dating challenges, and [ 4 ] guiding clients towards rebuilding trust and developing secure attachment bonds.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dating and romantic relationships have experienced a remarkable transformation with the advent and growing popularity of social networking sites and dating applications [ 1 ]. Online platforms have not only expanded the pool of potential partners [ 2 , 3 ], but they have also reshaped the dynamics of dating, making more common behaviours such as ghosting, orbiting, and breadcrumbing [ 4 – 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Consistent with prior research, we expect emerging adults to be more engaged in breadcrumbing [ 3 ]. Based on previous findings regarding attachment insecurity and patterns of relating to romantic partners, we expect that avoidant attachment will be positively related to breadcrumbing engagement, whereas anxious attachment will be negatively related to breadcrumbing engagement [ 4 ]. Lastly, we explore if cultural factors play a role in shaping the relationship between attachment insecurity styles and breadcrumbing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain

Khattar,

Huete,

Navarro

2023

BMC Psychol

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Background Breadcrumbing, defined as the act of sending out flirtatious, but non-committal text messages to lure a sexual/romantic partner without expending much effort, has gained attention in popular culture and the media due to its relevance to contemporary dating dynamics. However, there is lack of evidence of the association between attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing This study aims to uncover the potential relationship between breadcrumbing engagement and attachment insecurity among Indian and Spanish young adults. Methods Data were collected through an anonymous online survey answered by 334 adults in India and by 348 adults in Spain aged between 18 and 40 years old. A linear regression model in both countries was run to examine breadcrumbing engagement and its relationship with the set of sociodemographic variables included in the study (participants’ age and sex, sexual orientation, relationship status and educational level) and the two dimensions of attachment insecurity (anxious and avoidant). Results The results showed that insecure attachment, both anxious and avoidant, were associated with engaging in breadcrumbing in both the countries. However, there was a stronger association between anxious attachment and breadcrumbing in India compared to Spain, where the association was stronger between avoidant attachment and breadcrumbing. Conclusions Findings from this study offer insight into an under-studied practice in the context of interpersonal relationships (i.e., breadcrumbing behaviour) and show the importance of attachment theoretical framework to hypothesize and analyse expectations regarding strategies to negotiate intimate relationships and the breadcrumbing experience particularly.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain

Khattar,

Huete,

Navarro

2023

BMC Psychol

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“…The study translated and validated the English-language GQ into Urdu. The translated version comprises eight items and uses a 5-point Likert scale, i.e., never (1), rarely (2), sometimes (3), often (4), and always (5). The higher the score, the more experience of ghosting or having been ghosted.…”

Section: The Process Of Translating the Gq Into Urdumentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Common examples of ghosting include “unfriending” or “unmatching” on social media or failing to respond to phone calls, emails, or text messages [ 1 , 4 ]. According to new research based on interviews with ghosters and ghostees [ 5 , 6 ], ghosting can also occur in platonic friendships. This contradicts earlier claims of researchers such as LeFebvre and Koessler [ 7 , 8 ], who restricted the term to romantic relationships.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Translation and Preliminary Psychometric Validation of the Ghosting Questionnaire in Urdu

Husain,

Sadiqa,

Zahid

et al. 2024

EJIHPE

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Background: “Ghosting” refers to the practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with a person with whom you have been in constant correspondence. The break comes without warning and without understandable provocation. The term most commonly applies to online romantic relationships. The motives for and effects of ghosting have been studied, and validated research questionnaires have been developed; however, there are no such questionnaires available for Urdu speakers. The purpose of this study was to adapt the “Ghosting Questionnaire (GQ)” for use in Pakistan and India, two of the world’s most populous countries—a process that involves translation, adaptation, and validation. (2) Methods: The study’s methodology involved translating the GQ into Urdu using both forward and backward translation techniques. Convergent validity, test–retest reliability, internal consistency, confirmatory factor analysis, and goodness of fit were all components of the psychometric analyses. (4) Conclusions: The Urdu version of the GQ demonstrated a good internal consistency, with the Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s omega both exceeding 0.90. It also showed a high test–retest reliability—(0.96). The one-factor structure was confirmed by the confirmatory factor analysis, which agreed with the original English version of the GQ.

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Being ghosted online and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: The role of social avoidance and depression

Ding,

Sun,

Liu

et al. 2024

Death Studies

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Short-sighted ghosts. Psychological antecedents and consequences of ghosting others within emerging adults’ romantic relationships and friendships

Cited by 9 publications

References 76 publications

Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain

Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain

The Translation and Preliminary Psychometric Validation of the Ghosting Questionnaire in Urdu

Being ghosted online and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: The role of social avoidance and depression

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