ATTACHMENT STYLE AND SELF-CONCEPT CLARITY IN THE EVENT OF A ROMANTIC BREAKUP

Romantic relationships can significantly shape an individual's self-concept, particularly when partner identity becomes intertwined (Aron et al., 1992; Slotter et al., 2009). The dissolution of such relationships can therefore be disruptive to one’s self-concept clarity, or the extent to which individuals perceive their identity as stable, coherent, and well-defined (Campbell et al., 1996). However, individuals differ in how they form and maintain close relationships, often shaped by their attachment styles (Fraley & Shaver, 2000). This study examined whether anxious and avoidant attachment styles, along with perceived closeness to an ex-partner (as measured by the Inclusion of Other in the Self scale [IOS]), predicted self-concept clarity following a romantic breakup. Participants (N = 145), all of whom had experienced a romantic breakup within the past year, completed a series of online questionnaires assessing attachment style, IOS, self-concept clarity, and additional exploratory constructs. Results supported the hypothesis that both anxious and avoidant attachment were negatively associated with self-concept clarity. However, IOS did not significantly predict self-concept clarity. Exploratory analyses further explained that anxious attachment was positively related to rebound desire, Emotionality (from the HEXACO model) was negatively related to self-concept clarity, and self-esteem was positively related to self-concept clarity. These findings highlight that identity reconstruction after a romantic breakup is shaped not only by attachment styles but also by emotional tendencies, self-esteem, and other individual differences.<p></p>