College Students’ Grief Over a Breakup

Abstract

For this study, we examined associations between relationship closeness and grief endorsement, as well as the perceived stigmatization grief following the end of an intimate partner relationship. Participants of the current study (N = 254), ages 17–28, completed an online survey and claimed to have experienced a breakup within the past 24 months. Multiple regression analyses predicted grief intensity based on participants’ experience of closeness and stigmatization. Results indicated that grief partially predicts closeness within the past relationship and perceived stigmatization. These findings suggest that the experience of grief after a breakup is impacted by closeness and stigma.

Keywords:

• Grief
• breakup
• stigmatization
• closeness
• college students

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer E. Reimer

Jennifer Reimer received her BA in Psychology at UC San Diego and MS in Psychology at Cal Poly, SLO. She currently is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist working with traumatized children and families through a county organization. J. Reimer’s background is in bereavement and multiculturalism with an 18 month internship at a volunteer Hospice providing therapy to individuals, couples, and families on coping with death related and non-death related losses.

Aaron R. Estrada

Aaron Estrada is an Associate Professor in Psychology at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Generally, his research and applied foci center on personality theory, practitioner theoretical orientation, and the training, supervision, and practice of psychotherapy. Relatedly, he is a practicing psychologist licensed by the state of California. Specifically, his research and applied interests include collaborating across academic disciplines, study and service provision of psychotherapy and psychological assessment to diverse and underrepresented groups, masculinity, and the experience of grief and loss.