Revolutionary Error

Facebook Surveillance of Former Romantic Partners: Associations with PostBreakup Recovery and Personal Growth

psychotherapy:

Gotta love the title of this study, right? It sounds so academic! But it’s definintely worth reading—even if it only ends up telling us something that most of us, if we’re being honest with ourselves, probably already knew: the more you stalk your ex on facebook, the harder it is to move on, and the worse you feel.

via Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking:

Previous research has found that continuing offline contact with an ex-romantic partner following a breakup may disrupt emotional recovery. The present study examined whether continuing online contact with an ex-partner through remaining Facebook friends and/or engaging in surveillance of the ex-partner’s Facebook page inhibited postbreakup adjustment and growth above and beyond offline contact. Analysis of the data provided by 464 participants revealed that Facebook surveillance was associated with greater current distress over the breakup, more negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the ex-partner, and lower personal growth. Participants who remained Facebook friends with the ex-partner, relative to those who did not remain Facebook friends, reported less negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the former partner, but lower personal growth. All of these results emerged after controlling for offline contact, personality traits, and characteristics of the former relationship and breakup that tend to predict postbreakup adjustment. Overall, these findings suggest that exposure to an ex-partner through Facebook may obstruct the process of healing and moving on from a past relationship.

Science sez: Take a break after your breakup.