Psychological Factors Related to Positive Post-Breakup Adjustment: The Roles of Self-Concept Clarity, Resilience, Self-Esteem, and Optimism

Although research on the connection between self-concept clarity (SCC) and positive post-breakup adjustment is limited, and the role of resilience remains underexplored, this study aims to bridge this gap by examining how SCC influences post-breakup growth through psychological factors related to resilience. We conducted an online survey with 306 Chinese young adults, aged 18 to 29, who had experienced a breakup within the past 12 months. The data were analyzed using SPSS to test the hypothesized relationships. The results indicated that SCC is significantly related to post-breakup growth, and this relationship is partially mediated by resilience, self-esteem, and optimism. These findings suggest that enhancing SCC and these mediating factors could facilitate better post-breakup adjustment. Future research should consider cross-cultural studies and explore additional psychological variables to further elucidate the mechanisms underlying post-breakup growth.