邁向成人期之認知評估、心理堅韌力、正向情緒、發現益處與分手調適之關係：以擴展建立理論探討

Exploring the Relationships among Cognitive Appraisal, Resilience, Positive Emotion, Benefit Finding and Breakup Adjustment in Emerging Adulthood from the Perspective of the Broaden-Build Theory

心理堅韌力、正向情緒為適應逆境的重要因素，然而過去研究顯少以正向因素探討分手調適。本研究以Fredrickson（2001）提出「擴展建立理論」探討個體調適分手的路徑模式，並結合「壓力、評估及因應理論」，以釐清個體在不同認知評估之分手調適。本研究於網路平臺招募有效樣本339位，平均年齡24.23歲，研究工具為心理堅韌力量表、分手認知評估量表、區別情緒量表修訂版、發現益處與分手調適量表修訂版。結果發現：（1）心理堅韌力與正向情緒、分手調適間有顯著正相關；（2）正向情緒與發現益處間有顯著正相關；發現益處與分手調適間有顯著正相關；（3）威脅認知評估與心理堅韌力間有顯著負相關；挑戰認知評估與心理堅韌力間有顯著正相關；（4）當認知評估為威脅時，個體透過正向情緒、發現益處提高分手調適；（5）當認知評估為挑戰時，個體透過心理堅韌力提升正向情緒、發現益處提高分手調適。本研究意涵，心理堅韌力可藉由「擴展建立理論」中展現正向情緒向上螺旋特性，在分手事件幫助個體有較多思考—行動力，擴展知覺與思考能力、發現益處，提升分手調適。納入認知評估後，威脅認知評估直接透過正向情緒影響發現益處、分手調適；而挑戰認知評估藉由「擴展建立理論」之路徑影響分手調適。

Emerging adulthood constitutes a distinct developmental period characterized by identity exploration, relational instability, and the gradual assumption of adult roles (Arnett, 2000). Romantic dissolution is particularly prevalent during this life stage as individuals repeatedly engage in forming, negotiating, and terminating intimate relationships. Although breakups are common, they carry considerable emotional and psychological impact, often eliciting distress, rumination, and disruptions to daily functioning. Yet, romantic dissolution can also serve as a developmental inflection point from which individuals derive insight, maturity, and strengthened personal resources. Consequently, it is of both theoretical and practical importance to elucidate the psychological mechanisms that facilitate adaptive adjustment to breakup experiences among emerging adults. Drawing on Fredrickson's Broaden-Build Theory of positive emotions (Fredrickson, 2001), the present study investigated how cognitive appraisal, resilience, positive emotions, and benefit finding jointly contribute to breakup adjustment. Existing scholarship on romantic dissolution has primarily emphasized its adverse consequences-such as depressive symptoms, emotional turmoil, or relational grief-while comparatively fewer studies have examined the positive psychological processes that may promote growth or adaptive functioning after relational loss. Additionally, the role of cognitive appraisal from 'Stress, Appraisal and Coping Theory' (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984), especially the distinction between challenge and threat evaluations of stressful events, has received limited empirical attention in the context of breakup recovery. The present study addresses this gap by integrating appraisal theory with positive psychological constructs to elaborate a more comprehensive framework for understanding post-breakup adaptation. Resilience, defined as the capacity to withstand, recover from, and grow through adversity (Block & Kremen, 1996), constitutes a central personal resource in this framework. Resilient individuals are more likely to employ adaptive coping strategies, maintain emotional stability, and experience constructive affective states during stressful circumstances. Within the broaden-and-build perspective, positive emotions are viewed not merely as transient affective reactions but as catalysts that expand one's cognitive and behavioral repertoires, thereby fostering the development of enduring intrapersonal and interpersonal resources. Benefit finding-referring to the perception of personal growth, meaningful insights (Helmrath & Steinitz, 1978; Thompson & Janigian, 1988), or enhanced self-understanding arising from adversity (Cassidy et al., 2014)-is conceptualized as an outcome of these broadened cognitive processes. Past researches indicated that resilience, positive emotion and benefit finding are the important factors for individual's adjustment in the adversity, but never investigating the breakup adjustment on the foundation of positive psychology. Therefore, the proposed model posited that resilience would promote positive emotions, which in turn would facilitate benefit finding and ultimately support more adaptive breakup adjustment. Cognitive appraisal was hypothesized to serve as a critical antecedent shaping these emotional and cognitive pathways. Grounded in these theoretical premises, the present study sought to examine: the extent to which resilience relates the experience of positive emotions and the emergence of benefit finding following romantic dissolution, and the influence of challenge versus threat appraisals on emotional responses and subsequent adjustment, and the interrelations among these variables within an integrated the Broaden-Build model of breakup adjustment. To achieve these objectives, this study proposed the following hypotheses. First, to what extent is resilience significantly associated with positive emotions and breakup adjustment? Specifically, does a higher level of resilience correspond to increases in positive emotional experiences and more favorable adjustment outcomes following a romantic breakup? (H1). Second, what are the patterns of association among positive emotions, benefit finding, and breakup adjustment? In particular, how do individuals' experiences of positive emotions and their ability to identify personal growth or benefits from the breakup relate to their overall adjustment process? (H2). Third, how is cognitive appraisal related to psychological resilience? This question seeks to examine whether individuals' evaluative interpretations of the breakup event correspond to their capacity for resilience when encountering relational adversity. (H3). Lastly, does cognitive appraisal exert an influence on breakup adjustment through the mediating mechanisms of psychological resilience, positive emotions, and benefit finding? More specifically, does the way individuals interpret a breakup indirectly shape their adjustment outcomes by enhancing their resilience, facilitating positive affect, and promoting the recognition of benefits derived from the experience? (H4) The study recruited volunteers on the Internet. An online questionnaire was distributed on relevant community platforms. Demographic and research data were collected using self-reported questionnaires. Each questionnaire included the Ego Resiliency Scale (Block & Kremen, 1996), Breakup Cognitive Appraisal Scale, Modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES) (Lee, 2016), Benefit Finding Scale (Huang, 2003), and Breakup Adjustment Scale (revised version) as research tools. The Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling were used as statistical methods to analyze collected data. A total of 339 participants were included and completed a total of 339 valid questionnaires. The participants were heterosexual couples, were aged 20 years or older. Regarding gender, 75.2% of the participants were female. In terms of current status, 59.3% were still students. The majority of participants had attained a junior college or undergraduate level of education (72.3%). Concerning marital status, 97.6% were unmarried. Finally, with respect to age, all participants were between 20 and 30 years old, with an average age of 24.23 years. For other background variables related to breakup experiences, 48.7% of the participants were currently in a romantic relationship. With respect to the type of breakup experience, the largest group consisted of those who had initiated the breakup (44%). Regarding the number of romantic relationships and breakups, the average counts were 3.06 and 2.60, respectively. The following research conclusions were drawn. Resilience significantly predicted both positive emotions and benefit finding, suggesting that resilient individuals are better equipped to maintain constructive positive emotional experiences during periods of romantic dissolution. These emotional experiences subsequently enhanced individuals' capacity to identify meaningful benefits stemming from the breakup, including increased personal insight, strengthened future relational expectations, or greater clarity regarding personal values. Moreover, positive emotions were found to exert a significant positive influence on breakup adjustment, thereby underscoring their central role in facilitating adaptive functioning during emotionally challenging life events. Cognitive appraisal emerged as a pivotal factor in shaping breakup adjustment. Challenge appraisal-interpreting the breakup as an opportunity for personal development or self-improvement-was positively associated with the experience of positive emotions, benefit finding, and adaptive adjustment. This pattern aligns closely with the 'the Broaden-Build Theory', which posits that constructive interpretations of adversity enhance emotional flexibility and resource accumulation over time. Conversely, threat appraisal-viewing the breakup as damaging or overwhelming-was associated with diminished resilience. Notably, threat appraisal affected breakup adjustment primarily through its effect on positive emotional experiences rather than through direct pathways. This suggests that maladaptive appraisals may hinder adjustment chiefly by constraining individuals' resilience to engage in reflective, growth-oriented processing of their experiences, but affected breakup adjustment through enhancing positive emotion. Taken together, these results support an integrative model in which resilience exerts both direct and indirect effects on breakup adjustment, with positive emotions and benefit finding serving as key mediators. Cognitive appraisal, meanwhile, functions as an essential antecedent that shapes individuals' affective and cognitive responses to relational dissolution. Challenge appraisals activate the broaden-build process that culminates in adaptive adjustment, whereas threat appraisals impede this trajectory by limiting the occurrence of resilience that foster resource-building. However, threat appraisals still affected one's experience of romantic dissolution though positive emotion. The findings carry several applied implications. Interventions for emerging adults experiencing breakup distress may benefit from approaches designed to cultivate positive emotions given their central role in promoting adaptive functioning. Therapeutic techniques that encourage individuals to reframe breakup experiences, shifting from threat-oriented to challenge-oriented appraisals, may further enhance breakup adjustment. Additionally, resilience-building programs implemented during emerging adulthood may indirectly support healthier relational functioning by equipping individuals with the psychological resources needed to navigate future romantic challenges. In sum, the present study elucidates the dynamic interplay among resilience, cognitive appraisal, emotional experience, and benefit finding in shaping breakup adjustment during emerging adulthood. By applying 'the Broaden-Build Theory', the study highlights the foundational role of positive psychological processes in enabling individuals to transform relational loss into opportunities for growth. The findings underscore that adaptive adjustment is influenced not solely by dispositional traits but also by the interpretive frameworks individuals apply to stressful events. This integrative perspective contributes meaningfully to theoretical understanding and offers valuable guidance for the development of interventions that support emerging adults during periods of romantic transition.