Mental Health Consequences Of Relationship Churning

February 10 2023 TalktoAngel 0 comments 2241 Views

For a long, businesses have used the term "churn" to describe the loss of clients and customers. Psychologists have recently introduced the concept of relationship churn. Relationship churn is a term that refers to insecure on-again/off-again relationships. This is when couples end up breaking up, then reconciling--sometimes several times in a row. Relationship churn is more common in adolescents and young adults. But anyone can encounter it at any age. People are driven by the excitement of youth and the need to find the right partner for their future. These relationships are more stable and have a greater sense of fulfillment, duty, and energy.

Relationship churning: Psychological effects

On-and-off relationships can have mental health consequences that are as severe as those associated with relationship breakups (with or without partnering). It is not the same as continuing to be with the same partner when you get back together with the same partner. Although relationships can be most difficult after a separation, it is possible for them to get back together. However, even after reconciliation, churning can lead to a loss of trust in the relationship and a reduction in personal investment in maintaining it. Individuals and families can also find it difficult to deal with ambiguity.

Clashes in a good relationship are often due to a lack of communication. Communication issues can lead to a decrease in the effectiveness of relationship maintenance practices such as cooperation, tolerance, and amenability. Intense emotions can result from a strained relationship. In just a few days, a person can experience intense feelings of love, anger, and jealousy.

Causes of Relationship Churning

It can be difficult to break up with your partner permanently. Even if a relationship is irretrievably ended (or abusive), it's possible for partners to love one another, or even experience intense attraction and infatuation. According to a 2017 study, there are many reasons why a relationship can end in a vicious cycle of getting back together and breaking it down.

Believe that problems in a relationship will improve, or that a breakup can change a partner's behaviour.
Strong investment in the relationship.
Ambivalence in relationships. A person may dislike conflict in a relationship but feel intense love and trust for their partner.
Uncertainty regarding the future can lead to couples breaking up or reuniting later.
A sense of family duty. A sense of familial duty.
Fear of being single. For someone used to being in a relationship, singlehood can be hard. Singledom can be frightening for some people with anxiety about separation or attachment. Loneliness can lead to reconciliation even if the relationship is not working out.

How common is Relationship Churning?

Relationship churn, a relatively new concept, is still poorly understood. It is not clear how common these turbulent relationships are. The majority of research on the topic has focused on relationships between people in their teens and twenties and thirties. Therefore, most data about the topic are applicable to emerging adults and adolescents. It can be difficult to define relationship churn. It can be difficult to determine what constitutes relationship churn. One partner may believe they have reconciled after having sex. The others might still think they are fighting. Breakups can be unpredictable. While one partner may think they are merely taking some time off, the other might believe that the relationship is permanent.

Studies on relationship churning found that college students had shorter durations but more passion, commitment, and satisfaction than those in stable relationships. These relationships were more likely to be unstable and of lower quality due to the existence of conflict (such as problems with communication) and lower chances of engaging in positive behaviors such as being cooperative, polite, and patient. Research has shown that churning relationships are more likely to have lower commitment and arguing, but also have positive characteristics like intimate self-disclosure between partners. This could be why some couples may decide to reunite. It is believed that relationship churning may be associated with greater levels of violence and verbal abuse, as evidenced by the association between it and other negative qualities in relationships.

Get Professional Help from a Clinical Psychologist

Abuse in relationships, whether verbal, sexual or financial, is not safe for either of the partners. By reconciling with the victim without disclosing the abuse, the abusive partner could be able to exert more control. Reuniting with a partner who abuses children can be harmful to the entire family and traumatize the children. Each partner should weigh the impact of the relationship on their emotional and physical well-being before considering a reunion.

An online Couple Counsellor can help you assess if your relationship is worth saving and what needs to be done to save it. Therapy can help ease the process of a breakup by providing support for each partner and helping them transition to a new type of relationship. Online Therapy can be especially helpful for parents with young children who need to continue co-parenting.

To see changes, both partners don't have to go to therapy. Two people can create conflict in a relationship. Individual Online Counselling from an Online Counsellor can be used to help someone identify their part in the conflict. Individual therapy can also help people understand why they continue to return to a relationship. The Best Psychologist in India can help you feel less alone, be more secure, and reduce feelings of sadness, jealousy, and low self-esteem if the relationship is over.

Try reaching for loved ones frequently and spending time with those who can make you feel secure and at ease. You can also get assistance from Online Counsellors and the Best Therapist in India and other mental health professionals and have an Online Counselling session. Consult with the best “Relationship Counsellor near me”, to improve your relationship and increase your happiness quotient

Contribution by: Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Best Clinical Psychologist & Life Coach & Mr. Utkarsh Yadav, Counselling Psychologist