HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY FRIENDSHIP AND HOSTILITY BETWEEN EX-SPOUSES

Using two indicators of postdivorce attachment, preoccupation and host ility, this article distinguishes between divorced survey respondents' (n = 232) healthy and unhealthy friendship and between healthy and un healthy hostility toward the ex-spouse. The preoccupation indicator ra nges from low (low scores) to high (high scores), whereas the hostilit y indicator ranges from high friendship (low scores) to high hostility (high scores). Respondents with low preoccupation and high friendship have significantly higher emotional well-being (M = 46.0, SD = 7.6) t han those with high preoccupation and high friendship (M = 31.6, SD = 11.8). Respondents with low preoccupation and high hostility have sign ificantly higher well-being (M = 47.4, SD = 9.0) than those with high preoccupation and high hostility (M = 38.1, SD = 6.8). Low preoccupati on appears to be crucial To healthy postdivorce relationships, whether friendly or hostile. These quantitative findings confirm previously p ublished qualitative findings based on research interviews and clinica l cases.