This study explored how young adult initiators of romantic relationship dissolution experience grief and support through the breakup process. Participants were six female and three male undergraduate students at The University of Idaho, all of whom had initiated a breakup within the past six months. Initiators responded to a variety of questions about their experiences in a semi-structured interview. Based on a qualitative analysis of these interviews, a variety of themes emerged highlighting the often minimized experience of initiating a romantic relationship breakup in early adulthood. Additional analysis compared themes based on participant gender and age. Results suggest that initiators can and do experience grief after their breakups, that their grief is often disenfranchised, and that they value support from family and friends.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study explored how young adult initiators of romantic relationship dissolution experience grief and support through the breakup process. Participants were six female and three male undergraduate students at The University of Idaho, all of whom had initiated a breakup within the past six months. Initiators responded to a variety of questions about their experiences in a semi-structured interview. Based on a qualitative analysis of these interviews, a variety of themes emerged highlighting the often minimized experience of initiating a romantic relationship breakup in early adulthood. Additional analysis compared themes based on participant gender and age. Results suggest that initiators can and do experience grief after their breakups, that their grief is often disenfranchised, and that they value support from family and friends.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Finkelstein, Laura P."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Ph.D.","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Maria Riva, Ph.D.","Cynthia McCrae","Ruth Chao"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2014,"date_issued":"2014-08-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2014-08-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:02:03Z","subjects":["Young adult relationships","Post-relationship grief","Break-ups","Relationship dissolution","Counseling Psychology","Psychology"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
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"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Breaking Your Own Heart: A Qualitative Study of Grief After Initiating a Breakup"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Maria Riva, Ph.D.","Cynthia McCrae","Ruth Chao"],"dc:creator":["Finkelstein, Laura P."],"dc:date.available":["2001-01-01T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study explored how young adult initiators of romantic relationship dissolution experience grief and support through the breakup process. Participants were six female and three male undergraduate students at The University of Idaho, all of whom had initiated a breakup within the past six months. Initiators responded to a variety of questions about their experiences in a semi-structured interview. Based on a qualitative analysis of these interviews, a variety of themes emerged highlighting the often minimized experience of initiating a romantic relationship breakup in early adulthood. Additional analysis compared themes based on participant gender and age. Results suggest that initiators can and do experience grief after their breakups, that their grief is often disenfranchised, and that they value support from family and friends.
"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/198"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
"],"dc:subject":["Young adult relationships","Post-relationship grief","Break-ups","Relationship dissolution","Counseling Psychology","Psychology"],"dc:title":["Breaking Your Own Heart: A Qualitative Study of Grief After Initiating a Breakup"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Ph.D."]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:02:03Z"}