People have always assumed that rebounders are merely looking for a way to either get over or get back at their exes, and that it’s never a smart move.
Well, now researchers have got something to say about that. Rebound relationships may not be so silly after all – in fact, they may even have some advantages, according to a recent research out of Queens College and the University of Illinois. In a series of two studies (the first with 77 participants and the second with 236), researchers asked people who had recently experienced a breakup how they were doing, if they had moved on to someone else, and how they felt about their ex.
Upon analysing the results, the researchers found some pretty interesting findings – the less time participants spent being single between relationships, the higher their wellbeing, self-esteem, and confidence in their dating appeal. Rebounders tended to have more contact with and respect for their current partner too. However, they were also more likely to compare their current partner with their ex.
“The findings from these studies suggest that people who rapidly begin a new rebound relationship are not necessarily any worse off than those who wait longer to get reinvolved,” wrote the authors. “In fact, in some domains, they appear to be better functioning.”
Do take note that these studies simply show correlation and not a cause-and-effect relationship. It’s possible that people who are already feeling good post-breakup are more likely to start dating quickly, rather than feeling great because they’ve rebounded. Either way, it seems to show that not all rebound relationships are doomed. So if you’re feeling 100 percent over your ex and can’t wait to hop back into the dating pool, go for it—just tread wisely.
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