Self-affirmation Shortens the Grieving Process after Romantic Abandonment and can Increase Self-esteem

Abstract

Recovering from a break-up or divorce can be a long and difficult process. Grief is an emotional response to interpersonal rejection and loss. Romantic rejection has been found to have long-lasting effects on self-esteem, increasing the risk of prolonged grief. When individuals experience long periods of intense emotional distress after a romantic break-up, this can affect their overall mental health. The benefits of self-affirmations have been illustrated in past research; however, the beneficial role of self-affirmations on individuals going through the grieving process after the dissolution of a romantic relationship has not been fully explored. This study examines the effect of self-affirmations on shortening the grieving process in individuals who have recently gone through the dissolution of their romantic relationship. The research used a sample of 52 participants experiencing the breakup as non-initiators. The study focused on a 21-day program in which Group 1 repeated specific self-affirmations following a determined schedule, while Group 2 only participated in the control condition. The results of the research suggested that 21 days may be enough to make improvements in the life of the grieving person and that it contributes to regaining self-esteem and life satisfaction sooner after a romantic breakup. The results were compared to the unaffirmed group, which reported insignificant changes during the same time frame. The study supports the hypothesis that self-affirmations can reduce the duration of the grieving process in individuals who have recently gone through romantic break-up dissolution as non-initiators.