The relationship among level of intimacy, romantic attachment, coping strategies, and negative emotional experiences in young adults with ghosting experience

Abstract

The study aimed to explore ghosting or when the reasons for romantic relationship termination and subsequent disappearance of one’s partner are not conveyed in Thai society, which has objectives as follow:

1. To explore the relationship between level of intimacy (9 levels) and negative emotional experience (negative-self emotions and negative-others emotions)

2. To explore the relationship between level of intimacy (9 levels), romantic attachment (attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidant), and coping strategies (emotional release, direct approach, accommodation/acceptance, denial/blaming others, and self-blame/self-focused)

Participants were 335 young adults aged 18 – 30 years old (M = 22.3 years) who have had experience being ghosted. Data were collected using online self-reported questionnaires developed by the researcher. Pearson’s correlation coefficient, multiple regression, and moderation analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results found that:

1. Level of intimacy had a positive relationship with negative emotional experiences. Suggesting that, if one was more intimate with their partner they are more likely to have negative emotional experiences upon being ghosted.

2. Level of intimacy and attachment anxiety were found to be positive predictors of emotional release and self-blame/self-focused. Suggesting that individuals with high levels of intimacy and are anxiously attached were likely to utilize emotional release and self-blame/self-focused upon being ghosted.

3. Attachment avoidant was a negative predictor of emotional release and self-blame/self-focused. Suggesting that avoidantly attached individuals unlikely to utilize emotional release and self-blame/self-focused upon being ghosted.

4. Level of intimacy was found to be a negative predictor of self-blame/self-focused. Suggesting that if one was more intimate with their partner, the tendency to utilize self-blame/self-focused upon being ghosted also decreases.