Exploring mental health status of women following break-up of romantic relationship

Abstract

The present study focused on mental health condition of women following break-up of romantic relationship where main objective was to understand their emotional experience after the incident. To conduct the study the specific objectives were to explore the intrapersonal status and the effects on functional status on women and the coping style to which they used following break-up of romantic relationship on their lives. In this study qualitative method using phenomenological approach has been used. Purposive sampling method was employed to collect data from seven adult women who have experienced a break-up. In the in-depth, individual and recorded interview with topic guide the participants shared their lived experiences from the break-up through current time. The interview were then transcribed and analyzed using Moustakas’s (1994) modification of the Stevick- Colaizzi-Keen method of phenomenological data analysis. Results of the analysis yielded seven major themes termed as initial aftermath, becoming a loner, disruption of day to day activities, bleak present, cause for augmented and enduring pain, coping strategies and support systems and struggling toward recovery. The findings of the study evinced that after the incident of traumatic initial aftermath, decreasing interpersonal communication and losing interest on regular activities they pathologically developed some negative and despondent outlook about life and cynical mindset about people that had its genesis in some underlying factors. In the path of recovery they used some interpersonal and intrapersonal initiative for recovering and they are now in a slow, methodical and progressive development from their traumatic experiences. The commonality of the participants also indicates that though the women have recovered from their extreme painful experience they still have psychological scar in their mind as well as have positive development on their life. The study will help to understand the psychological profile of women following romantic relationship break-up. However retrospective reporting and restricting participants from involving in any further romantic relationship after the break-up can be considered as two main limitations of the present study.