For some couples, the recent coronavirus pandemic has presented an opportunity to finally have some quality time together, allowing them to spend their lockdown days playing games, planning trips and – ultimately – enjoying each other’s company.
However, for other couples, the multiple lockdowns have put a huge strain on relationships.
From suddenly needing to home-school children to being around each other 24/7, these levels of stress and worry have made maintaining a relationship more difficult than ever, leaving many couples now at a bit of a crossroads.
So, with this in mind, we thought we’d highlight some of the ways in which relationships are likely to change now that the world is returning to some semblance of normality.
Join us as we not only run through what the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic has been on couples up to this point but also pinpoint how that’s likely to affect relationships moving forward.
Pre-existing relationships should grow stronger
In light of the increased time spent at home with one another, this has been largely seen as one of the key positives to come out of the pandemic. As such, many relationships are now seen to be more fortified than they were before, with 58% of couples stating they had an ‘increased appreciation for their partners’.
What’s more, contrary to some public opinion, the current number of divorces is a lot lower as well – a trend that’s likely to continue into the future. This is largely speculated to be because of having an increased ability to communicate with one another and resolve issues via virtual couples counselling – a key tool many couples have used to work through arguments, misunderstandings and re-establish lost connections.
Pandemic-based relationships could be harder to sustain
The suddenness of the pandemic placed an unexpected pressure on many of the couples that were at the start of their relationship journey.
Within seconds of the government’s broadcast, there were questions to ask around whether you wanted to commit to living together during the lockdown, effectively forcing many people to ‘couple up’ a lot more quickly than they probably would have done otherwise.
This, in turn, may have made building relationships more difficult, with houses quickly feeling more like prisons than actual homes. Plus, without friends or family around to communicate with, couples may have grown more reliant on one another than they would have done before.
As a result of this, the reopening of society could now shine a light on the pandemic relationships which weren’t strong or well-functioning enough from the get-go.
Partners may now become more envious about the time they aren’t spending with their significant other, for example, feeling as if they aren’t enough for them any more. This, in turn, could put a significant strain on certain relationships and potentially lead to an increased likelihood of arguments and feelings of insecurity.
Pandemic-formed relationships could have a weaker bond
While on the topic of the world finally opening up again, the way in which partners act now could define how long-lasting the relationship is likely to be.
If one partner has got used to spending their days inside, for example, things might change now that things are starting to open up again, and we can finally enjoy each other’s company.
One partner may want to go out all the time, while the other doesn’t, which could eventually lead to a lack of excitement in the relationship. This, in turn, could lead to feelings of resentment manifesting over time, weakening the bond that was formed during the lockdown and, ultimately, causing the relationship to crumble.
Final thoughts
The coronavirus pandemic will have been make or break for a lot of couples. After all, it has been an incredibly tumultuous time to get through, rife with feelings of uncertainty and insecurity throughout.
As such, it’s hardly surprising to hear that relationships may be struggling to prosper now that the world is opening up again. If anything, it’s natural.
The key thing to remember is that a good partner should make you feel loved and supported, while providing you with a safe space and platform to communicate with effectively.
If they don’t, it could be worth asking yourself whether you see them as a long-term option. But, if they do, you should be able to ride the post-pandemic wave with your head held high.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg.
