Date of Graduation

Spring 2014

Degree

Master of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Brooke Whisenhunt

Abstract

The purpose of the current research was to examine the effect of relationship-contingent self-esteem (RCSE) and body shame on women's cognitive, affective, and body-related behavioral responses to significant events that occur in romantic relationships. Participants read vignettes involving either a positive or negative relationship event and were asked to complete measures of self-esteem, affect, and behavior in responses to the event. The study found that level of RCSE had an impact on state self-esteem for both positive and negative relationship events. Level of RCSE also had a significant effect on women's pursuit of an ex-romantic partner. Lastly, women with high body shame were found to engage in more body-related behaviors after a significant romantic relationship event than women with low body shame.

Keywords

relationship-contingent self-esteem, body shame, romantic relationships, body-related behaviors, proposal, break-up

Subject Categories

Psychology

Copyright

© Greta K. Aronson

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