Attachment style and conflict resolution skills predicting technology use in relationship dissolution

• Measured frequency of relationship dissolution by various technologies.
• Text messaging was most used to deliver and to receive a breakup.
• Attachment anxiety predicted having been broken up with via technology.
• Conflict resolution approach predicted likelihood of initiating breakups via technology.

Differences in attachment styles and conflict resolution skills may exist for those who choose to initiate or who receive relationship dissolution mediated by technology. 304 college students (F = 178, M = 126) completed an online questionnaire about their demographics, relationship status, attachment styles, and conflict resolution skills. Text messaging was the most common form of technology to initiate or receive a breakup. Greater attachment anxiety predicted being the recipient of a technology-mediated dissolution. Positive attitudes towards conflict resolution predicted having initiated a breakup via technology. There were no significant differences in attachment styles or conflict resolution skills for those using text messaging to receive or initiate conflict resolution.