The Aftermath of Hurtful Events: Cognitive, Communicative, and Relational Outcomes

Abstract

This study explored cognitive, communicative, and relational outcomes associated with hurtful events in romantic relationships. Participants (N = 206) completed two surveys, two months apart, to examine uncertainty as a mediator between hurt and rumination and hurt and forgiveness, communication differences based on hurtful event type, and post-hurtful event relational changes. Fourteen types of hurtful events emerged, with infidelity (n = 47) and jealousy (n = 27) occurring most frequently. Self-uncertainty mediated the relationships between hurt and rumination, nonverbal forgiveness, and forgiveness through minimization.