Finding the silver lining: The relative roles of redemptive narratives and cognitive reappraisal in individuals' emotional distress after the end of a romantic relationship. (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Slotter, Erica B.; Ward, Deborah E.
• Is Part Of: Journal of social and personal relationships. Volume 32:Number 6(2015)
• Page Start: 737
• Page End: 756
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Emotional distress -- reappraisal -- redemptive narratives -- relationship dissolution; Interpersonal relations -- Periodicals; Social interaction -- Periodicals; 302.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0265407514546978
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0265-4075

Abstract

The present research sought to identify a novel factor that reduces the emotional impact of relationship dissolution. Specifically, we examined individuals' use of redemptive narratives—a form of narrative focused on positive outcomes in negative situations—in post-dissolution journal entries written over the course of a 4-day diary study. An interaction emerged, that is, individuals reported reduced emotional distress to the extent that they had used more, versus fewer, redemptive narratives the day before (a lagged effect), but only at the end, not the beginning, of the study. This effect was independent from similar effects predicted by greater cognitive processing. These findings suggest that redemptive narratives may reduce individuals' post-dissolution distress.