Affective Reactions to Divorce or Spousal Death

Abstract This chapter explores similarities and differences in emotional reactions, physical and mental health consequences, and coping after the breakup of a long-term romantic relationship and spousal death. We employ an attachment perspective and argue that the core of both events is the activation of the attachment system and a separation reaction that result in similar affective reactions including grief, anger, and anxiety. Even though the most frequent long-term adaptation to partner loss is resilience, both events increase the risk for mental and physical health problems and higher mortality. Separation/divorce and spousal death require an attachment reorganization and share adaptation tasks such as creating a new life and identity without the partner and transforming the bond with the lost person. Furthermore, the established dual process model of coping with bereavement is applicable for both events. This is supported by the results of an online self-help program for prolonged grief that indicate that separated and widowed individuals benefit from the same interventions. Despite these similarities, theory and research related to separation/divorce and spousal death have traditionally been separate. We argue that it is fruitful to integrate these research traditions into a broader conceptual framework of separation and loss. Future research should empirically test similarities and differences in affective reactions, challenges, and coping strategies and identify optimal ways of intervention and prevention. For this purpose, we discuss how social media or virtual reality offer new opportunities for coping but also how they may prolong the process of adaptation.