Love and connection are essential to the human experience, often linked to better mental health and well-being. However, recent research shows that the impact of relationships on mental health goes beyond simply being in a relationship. Factors like wanting a relationship, rejecting one, and being satisfied with your relationship status also significantly affect mental health.
This article explores a groundbreaking study that examined how relationship status, desire, rejection, and satisfaction all influence mental health. Led by a dedicated research team, the study highlights the importance of understanding the mismatch between our relationship goals and current status in different relationship groups.
Factors like wanting a relationship, rejecting one, and being satisfied with your relationship status also significantly affect mental health.
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The study, which focused on young adults aged 18 to 40, revealed how mismatched relationship goals and status can affect mental health, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and romantic loneliness. This mismatch, or “(in)congruency,” refers to the gap between a person’s relationship desires, dismissals, and their current relationship situation.
For example, imagine someone who longs for a romantic relationship but is single. The mismatch between their desire and status may lead to anxiety and loneliness. Conversely, someone happy being single but in a casual relationship might feel more anxious or depressed because their situation doesn’t match their desire for something more casual.
The researchers studied 790 participants from different relationship statuses, including single, casual dating, living apart together (LAT), cohabitation, and engagement/marriage. A month after the initial assessment, they found interesting links between relationship mismatches and mental health.
For those in LAT relationships, a stronger desire for a relationship was linked to lower anxiety, suggesting that people who valued their LAT setup had less anxiety. However, in the casual dating group, a higher desire for a relationship was tied to more anxiety, and a stronger rejection of relationships was connected to higher depression. This highlights the importance of understanding how our relationship goals match our current situation.
Satisfaction with relationship status also played a key role in mental well-being. Single people who were more satisfied with being single had lower depression levels. Similarly, those who lived together or were engaged/married and felt satisfied with their relationship status experienced less romantic loneliness.
The findings of this study have profound implications for mental health and relationships. Understanding and addressing (in)congruency in relationship desires and dismissals can empower individuals to make informed decisions about their romantic lives and well-being.
If you find yourself feeling anxious or down despite being in a relationship, it might be beneficial to explore your desires and dismissals and see if they align with your current status. Open and honest communication with your partner about your feelings can lead to better emotional alignment and a healthier relationship.
For those navigating the single life, embracing satisfaction with your status can lead to a more fulfilling and contented life. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to relationships, and embracing your current status with a positive outlook can foster personal growth and happiness.
Moneer Barazi is the founder and CEO of Vital Intelligence. He is an avid researcher of human behavior and human intelligence, including group collective intelligence.
Vital Intelligence helps individuals and teams reach their peak human intelligence, individually and collectively.
