Grief, Social Support, Anger and Loneliness Among Young Adults

Abstract

This study examined the interplay of grief, social support, anger, and loneliness among young adults following romantic breakup. Guided by attachment and stress appraisal frameworks, it hypothesized that grief would predict anger and loneliness, social support would buffer these effects, and gender would moderate the anger loneliness association. A correlational design was employed with 264 university students aged 18–25, assessed using standardized measures including the Breakup Grief Scale, MSPSS, Clinical Anger Scale, and UCLA Loneliness Scale. Regression analyses revealed that breakup grief significantly predicted both anger and loneliness, accounting for substantial variance. Perceived social support significantly moderate grief’s effects. Gender also moderate the anger loneliness relationship. Overall, findings highlight grief’s central role in emotional distress after breakup and underscore social support as a protective factor, though not a moderator. Results emphasize the need to validate breakup grief, strengthen diverse support systems, and design interventions that reduce loneliness and de-escalate anger in emerging adults.

 Key Words: Grief, Social Support, Loneliness, Anger, Young Adults