2010 Volume 18 Issue 2 Pages 129-139
This study investigated how different coping strategies for romantic break-ups (regretted, rejected, and avoidant coping) and the psychological detachment from the ex-romantic partners affect the sense of coherence (SOC; Antonovsky, 1979, 1987), which is an aspect of mental maturity. Undergraduates (60 males, 54 females) who had experienced romantic break-ups in the past year completed a questionnaire including stress coping for recent romantic break-ups, psychological detachment from ex-romantic partners, and the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (SOC scale). Structural equation modeling suggested that psychological detachment from ex-romantic partners directly increased SOC. There were also mediating effects related to coping strategies. Regretted and rejected coping strategies decreased SOC, whereas avoidant coping strategies increased SOC.
