How Covid-19 has Impacted Relationships

Tragedies such as the Covid-19 pandemic have been proven to make or break marriages and relationships.

The ongoing Covid-19 crisis taking place around the world, particularly in India, has caused a spike in break ups.

The virus outbreak has also caused marriages to fall apart.

Since the start of the outbreak in 2020, couples have been feeling overwhelmed and experiencing health-related issues.

Many couples have also had to stay at home, either together or apart, for a long period of time.

According to various relationship and mental health experts, this has led to both emotional and mental health problems surfacing in relationships.

Relationship expert and author, Shahzeen Shivdasani, says that the Covid-19 pandemic has had both a positive and negative impact on relationships.

Speaking to The Indian Express, she said:

“It has given people the time to pay close attention to their relationships.

“A lot many people have walked away from relationships, having realised they want different things out of life or are not compatible anymore.

“In some cases, the pandemic has also taught people to fight for their relationships and pay more attention to nurturing them.”

Shivdasani also believes that a lot of unmarried couples have drifted apart due to a lack of physical intimacy. She said:

“The last few months have been about surviving another lockdown. A lot of people have feared the impact this would have on their relationships again, and how to make long-distance work.

“For single people, I have come across questions and how they are giving up on finding a partner as no matter how much you talk to someone online, you need physical intimacy, [along with desire] to go on actual dates.”

However, relationship expert Dr. Aarti Dahiya believes that familial and romantic relationships have somewhat improved since the pandemic.

This, Dahiya says, is due to people becoming “more affectionate towards each other”.

Dahiya believes that times of hardship can strengthen a relationship, saying:

“Moreover, there is a well-known proverb, ‘Bad time shows the best relationships’.”

According to Dr. Aarti Dahiya, the outbreak of Covid-19 has also caused a surge in people turning to online dating.

She explains that married couples can experience privacy issues due to being locked down together. However, unmarried couples struggled with the distance.

Dahiya said:

“Of course, the pandemic also saw a rise in the number of people on dating sites.

“I have received questions regarding approaching people, people struggling with their past, due to which they weren’t open to love, feeling isolated, and so on.”

In order to combat this, Dahiya advises couples to have a more empathetic approach to relationships. She said:

“Creating a good atmosphere is needed during this pandemic time.

“Try to understand each other’s values and cooperate as much as you can; it will only bring happiness to your life.”

“[Couples] should learn to enhance their skills and motivate their partner to do the same.

“I must say, there is ample time to learn and be a better version of yourself, so that your partner can feel proud of you.”

Dr. Aarti Dahiya also believes that communication is the key to a strong relationship.

Dahiya said:

“Reach out to a loved one and share your emotions with them. Communication is the key to maintaining any relationship.

“Sometimes, it’s important to seek professional consultation. Our mind is our strongest weapon and we can either let it consume us or let it direct us towards a more productive, happy and healthy lifestyle.”

Shahzeen Shivdasani agrees with Dahiya. She says that if a couple can survive an experience as extraordinary as a global pandemic, that couple can survive anything.