Relationships

Relationships come in all shapes and forms - romantic, platonic, familial, parental, sisterly, brotherly....the list goes on. But no matter what type of relationship we are in - we can encounter good and challenging times. Figuring out effective ways to communicate, draw and maintain boundaries, and express our emotions can make our relationships stronger and improve our own well-being.

A Toolkit for Managing Conflict During COVID-19

Living with others can be hard, especially during the pandemic. When people feel more stressed, they may experience more conflict in their relationships. Although interpersonal conflict can take many forms, it often stems from misperceptions and miscommunications that result in two parties not seeing eye to eye. Left unresolved, these disagreements can lead to hurt feelings and add additional strain to a person’s living situation.

Below, we offer some tools that have been empirically proven to help reduce and resolve conflict. The first will help you take a step back from the conflict, review the facts of the situation, and problem solve (adapted from Finkel, Slotter, Luchies, Walton, and Gross, 2013). The second will help to address hurt feelings that may arise from conflict (adapted from Marigold, Holmes, and Ross, 2007). The final slideshow offers tips for navigating tension while in quarantine.

7 tips for Ameliorating Tension in Relationships

During this time of quarantine, many relationships are being tested, whether it be with family, roommates, or a partner. The following tips, based on evidence-based principles, are designed to help ease tensions and improve effectiveness in coping, communication, and conflict resolution. These are specific to relationships that are typically healthy and safe. See other resources if you do not feel safe.