Abstract
It is well-known that good romantic relationships can have positive impacts on individual
health and well-being. However, many people report being unhappy in their current
relationship and nearly half of first-time marriages end in divorce. Indeed, divorce or
separation concerns have typically been identified as common reason why couples seek
treatment for their relationship. Preventing relationship dissolution has been one common
goal of many relationship interventions; however, recent developments in couple
counseling have argued that therapists should first help ambivalent couples to decide
whether ending the relationship is a viable treatment outcome. The current study seeks to
contribute to these interventions by a) determining whether breaking up is characterized
by gradual or sudden changes in functioning, b) examining differences in changes in
individual functioning between those that do and do not break up, and c) identifying
baseline characteristics that moderate differences between individuals who do and do not
end their relationship. Using a low-income sample from a larger randomized controlled
trial (N = 286 individuals who ended relationship; N = 572 individuals in the matched
comparison), the current study found that breaking up is characterized by gradual rather
than sudden change. Additionally, after controlling for pre-breakup characteristics, there
are few differences in individual functioning between those that breakup and those who
maintain their relationship. Finally, results revealed that few variables moderate an
individual’s adjustment to breaking up. Therefore, after controlling for pre-breakup
characteristics, breaking up may not be as detrimental to individual well-being as once
anticipated. Therefore, clinicians guiding couples through the breakup process may
consider focusing on improving communication skills or implementing acceptance and
change-based strategies rather than trying to prevent a couple from ending their
relationship.