Charting self-esteem during marital dissolution

The purpose of this study was to chart changes in self-esteem before and after marital dissolution to identify the factors that shape individuals’ self-esteem during this life transition. To do this, we analyzed 10 annual waves of self-esteem data from 291 divorcees from a nationally representative panel study of the Netherlands (N ~ 13,000). We charted the course of self-esteem before and after marital dissolution and tested a broad set of moderator variables that may shape individuals’ self-esteem trajectories. The average divorcee experienced significant decreases in self-esteem preceding marital dissolution and remained stable afterwards. There were substantial individual differences in self-esteem trajectories, both before and after marital separation. Divorcees who experienced financial hardship, were affiliated with a church or religion, or scored low in conscientiousness showed the most pronounced decreases in self-esteem during the years approaching marital dissolution.These results are consistent with perspectives that view divorce as an opportunity to abate the strains of an unhappy marriage.