Does low self-esteem predict lower wellbeing following relationship dissolution?

Abstract

People low in self-esteem are likely more vulnerable to the wellbeing costs of relationship dissolution. Yet, several methodological limitations may mean that prior studies have overestimated such vulnerability. Overcoming prior limitations, we apply propensity score matching (PSM) to compare the later wellbeing of matched samples who experienced a dissolution over the past year (N = 1,333) versus remained in a romantic relationship (N = 1,333). Controlling for pre-dissolution wellbeing, people who experienced a dissolution reported lower later wellbeing compared to people who remained in a relationship. Although this pattern was more pronounced for people initially lower in self-esteem, the relative effects were small. Using PSM to provide stringent tests of the wellbeing effects of dissolution reveals a general resilience when experiencing dissolution and indicates that the vulnerability of low self-esteem may be smaller than assumed. Acknowledging the strengths and limitations of the PSM approach, we consider theoretical and methodological implications.