Some have flourished but others are in crisis
Now, more than a year after lockdown began, the impact on our relationships has never been greater.
We have spent more than 12 months living in close proximity to our partners 24 hours a day, often coping with home schooling, money concerns and other family pressures. While some couples have flourished, a high proportion of younger couples have found the intense nature of lockdown has brought them to the point of crisis. Working as a relationship counsellor on Zoom throughout lockdown, I have seen many young couples struggle to find a way to resolve the issues they face. Arguments get out of hand and many couples don’t know how to handle disagreements. They find themselves trapped in a cycle of conflict and distrust and many give up on their relationships. While some couples are navigating whether or not they want to spend their future with their partners, others are dealing with different emotions, namely loneliness and jealousy. When life returns to “normal” – whatever that will look like
– a fifth of young couples said they were worried they’d get jealous about their partner’s life outside of lockdown. A third also mentioned they’d feel lonely without the constant companionship when they return to work and socialising.
It’s not all negative for young couples, though. One in 10 people realised they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with their partners, prompting them to propose.