The relationship between attachment styles and grief after romantic separation: The mediating role of cyberstalking

As digital technologies become increasingly embedded in social interactions, problematic behaviors like cyberstalking are also becoming more common and multifaced. In this context, the present study investigated the mediating role of intimate partner cyberstalking in the relationship between adult attachment styles and grief after romantic separation. The study was conducted with 294 individuals aged between 18 and 45 (M = 23.50, SD = 4.29), who had experienced a romantic breakup within the past 3 to 6 months and were not currently in a romantic relationship. Participants completed The Experiences in Close Relationships- II (ECR- II), The Intimate Partner Cyberstalking Scale (IPCS), and The Grief After Separation Scale (GASS), along with a demographic information form. According to the results, anxious attachment significantly predicted higher levels of cyberstalking behaviors, while avoidant attachment did not significantly predict cyberstalking engagement. Furthermore, cyberstalking was found to significantly predict grief levels following romantic separation. Mediation analyses demonstrated that cyberstalking partially mediated the relationship between anxious attachment and grief after romantic separation. These findings align with theoretical assumptions suggesting that individuals with anxious attachment, driven by a heightened fear of abandonment and a desire for proximity, may engage in digital surveillance behaviors during or after the relationship. These behaviors, in turn, may hinder emotional resolution and intensify the grieving experience. Although avoidantly attached individuals were less likely to engage in cyberstalking, they may still process grief through alternative mechanisms such as emotional detachment or social withdrawal. As far as the author is aware, this study is the first to look into how intimate partner cyberstalking may act as a mediator in the relationship between grief after romantic separation and adult attachment styles. It highlights how crucial it is to acknowledge that digital habits play a big role in the grieving process in contemporary relationships. The results imply that long-lasting grieving reactions may be lessened by therapy therapies that target attachment-related needs and the development of digital coping mechanisms, especially for those with anxious attachment. Keywords: Attachment styles, cyberstalking, grief, romantic separation, anxious attachment.