How COVID-19 Has Impacted Romantic Relationship Dynamics

The purpose of this study was to provide an exploration of impacts to romantic relationship dynamics attributed the COVID-19 pandemic. Though many attributes of COVID-19 classify it as a distinct, unique event in its own right, a literature review of past global health events and economic crises provided a foundational reference point from which to compare it to. Twelve participants who were in relationships with another person for at least four years at the time were interviewed, six of which who were parented individuals and six of which who had no children, to discover how COVID-19-related changes developed over the course of the pandemic and impacted relationship dynamics in unique ways amongst both populations. Four significant themes resulted from participant interviews: initiative for self-focus, negotiation to navigate between worlds, pressurized communication, and flexibility in functioning. These themes played out differently across relationship dynamics and impacted satisfaction, functioning and normal life cycle development depending on a convergence of various factors in the couple/family systems. The ABC-X model and conservation of resource theory (COR) offer two frameworks for conceptualization and guidance in determining appropriate treatment for these populations