Relação entre breakup distress, intrusive thoughts e self-concealment

Maria Luísa Martins de Campos Costa (Student)

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

Romantic relationships are part of most people's lives. The same seems to happen with romantic rejection, which can result in a period of profound suffering for the individual experiencing it. Given its impact on public health, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between breakup distress, intrusive thoughts, and self concealment in romantic relationships within the portuguese population. The study adapted and validated the Breakup Distress Scale (BDS), Intrusive Thoughts Scale (ITS), and SelfConcealment Scale (SCS) for this sample. Using a quantitative, correlational, descriptive, and cross sectional approach, correlations between these scales and sociodemographic variables were examined. The results revealed robust fit models for all scales, with significant positive correlations found between BDS and ITS (r = 0.305, p < 0.001), BDS and SCS (r = 0.309, p < 0.001), and ITS and SCS (r = 0.512, p < 0.001). Additionally, sociodemographic analyses showed that age negatively correlated with selfconcealment (r = 0.124, p < 0.010) and intrusive thoughts (r = 0.135, p < 0.010). This study contributes to a deeper understanding of emotional dynamics in romantic relationships, emphasizing important implications for psychological interventions and emotional support.