Summary: Following a breakup, women are more likely to experience feeling a short-term decline in their sense of control than men. People who lost a loved one to death experience an overall increase in perceived control during the first year post-loss.
Source: PLOS
A new analysis of people who underwent different types of relationship loss found that these experiences were linked with different patterns of short- and long-term sense of control following the loss.
Eva Asselmann of the HMU Health and Medical University in Potsdam, Germany, and Jule Specht of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany, present these findings in PLOS ONE on August 3, 2022.
Previous research has shown that a greater perceived sense of personal control over one’s life is associated with better well-being and better health. Romantic relationships are closely linked to perceived control; for instance, evidence suggests a link between perceived control and better relationship satisfaction. However, less is known about how the loss of a relationship might be linked to changes in perceived control.
To shed new light, Asselmann and Specht analyzed data from three timepoints in a multi-decade study of households in Germany. Specifically, they used yearly questionnaire results from 1994, 1995, and 1996 to evaluate changes in perceived control for 1,235 people who experienced separation from their partner, 423 who divorced, and 437 whose partners passed away.
Statistical analysis of the questionnaire results suggests that, overall, people who experienced separation from their partner experienced a drop in perceived control in the first year after separation, but followed by a gradual increase in later years.
After separation, women were more likely than men to have a decline in their sense of control, while younger people had an increased sense of control compared to older people.
People whose partners passed away had an overall increase in perceived control during the first year post-loss, followed by a continued boost in perceived control compared to the period before the death. However, compared to older people, younger people experienced more detrimental effects of partner death on their sense of control.
The analysis found no links between divorce and perceived control.
The researchers call for future investigations to track people who have not yet experienced relationship loss and evaluate changes in perceived control when loss occurs. They also call for research into the mechanisms that underlie post-loss changes in perceived control.
The authors add: “Our findings suggest that people sometimes grow from stressful experiences—at least regarding specific personality characteristics. In the years after losing a romantic partner, participants in our study became increasingly convinced in their ability to influence their life and future by their own behavior.
“Their experience enabled them to deal with adversity and manage their life independently, which allowed them to grow.”
About this psychology and control research news
Author: Press Office
Source: PLOS
Contact: Press Office – PLOS
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Original Research: Open access.
“Personality growth after relationship losses: Changes of perceived control in the years around separation, divorce, and the death of a partner” by Eva Asselmann et al. PLOS ONE
Abstract
Personality growth after relationship losses: Changes of perceived control in the years around separation, divorce, and the death of a partner
Background
Previous research suggests that romantic relationships play a crucial role for perceived control. However, we know surprisingly little about changes in perceived control before and after the end of romantic relationships.
Methods
Based on data from the Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), a nationally representative household panel study from Germany, we examined changes of perceived control in the years around separation from a partner (N = 1,235), divorce (N = 423), and the death of a partner (N = 437).
Results
Multilevel analyses revealed that external control beliefs were higher in but not beyond the first year after separation from a partner. Internal and total control beliefs increased gradually in the years after separation. Moreover, internal control beliefs were higher in and especially beyond the first year after the death of a partner compared to the years before. No evidence was found that perceived control already changed in the years before relationship losses or in the years around a divorce.
Conclusion
Taken together, these findings point toward stress-related growth of perceived control after some relationship losses–especially separation and the death of a partner.
