London, June 12 (IANS): If you are stalking your ex on Facebook after that bitter breakup, then it's time to stop doing that, as a new study suggests that it could be affecting your mental health.

"Participants who remained Facebook friends with the ex-partner, relative to those who did not remain Facebook friends, reported less negative feelings, sexual desire, and longing for the former partner, but lower personal growth," said psychologist Tara Marhall of Brunel University London.

Marshall analysed the data provided by 464 study participants that revealed that Facebook surveillance was associated with greater current distress over the breakup, according to the study published recently in the journal of Cyberpsychology, Behaviour, and Social Networking.

"Overall, these findings suggest that exposure to an ex-partner through Facebook may obstruct the process of healing and moving on from a past relationship," she added.

The study results emerged after controlling for offline contact, personality traits, and characteristics of the former relationship and breakup that tend to predict postbreakup adjustment.

Earlier studies have linked Facebook stalking to increased levels of anxiety.