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.
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