Intimate Relationships in Times of COVID-19: A Descriptive Study of Belgian Partners and their Perceived Well-Being.

Laura Sels,Lesley Verhofstadt,Marie Geonet,Ashley K Randall,Pauline Verhelst,Justine Gaugue,Sarah Galdiolo,Claudia Chiarolanza

doi:10.5334/pb.1088

Laura Sels, Lesley Verhofstadt + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.1088

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Abstract

How did couples in Belgium cope during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic? In this study, grounded in relationship science, we investigated in a descriptive manner several factors that could affect how couples perceived individual and relational wellbeing during this time. Specifically, we examined the associations between gender, sexual orientation, parental status, and relationship duration on participants’ self-reported individual and relational well-being after the first lockdown (more generally and more specific in response to COVID-19). Additionally, we investigated if relational well-being predicted perceived change in individual well-being from pre- to post-COVID-19 regulations. To test these hypotheses, self-report data was collected during the Summer of 2020 in both the Dutch and French speaking part of Belgium. Data from 679 participants suggested that individual and relational well-being only differed based on parental status (and not by gender nor sexual orientation). Importantly, parents reported lower relational well-being than participants without children, while participants without children reported higher perceived increases in depression. People that had been in a relationship for longer also reported lower relational well-being, but this relationship was explained by other confounding factors. Relational well-being buffered increases in individual distress that people perceived to have occurred pre-COVID-19 regulations to after COVID-19 regulations went into effect. These findings might inform practice and policy for individuals in a romantic relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Highlights

In response to the COVID-19 regulations, and the uncertainties that go along with it, many people are showing increases in emotional distress (Montemurro, 2020)
We investigated the potential impact of specific categorical characteristics (Q1: gender; Q2: sexual orientation, Q3: parental status) on participants’ individual and relational well-being
We wanted to examine how Belgian individuals involved in an intimate relationship are faring during COVID-19

Summary

Introduction

In response to the COVID-19 regulations, and the uncertainties that go along with it, many people are showing increases in emotional distress (Montemurro, 2020). Qualitative data collected across 20 countries found that participants reported feeling locked up at home, and feeling stressed due to: being always at home, a lack of time for the relationship, combining teleworking with coordinating school for their children, and lack of social leisure activities (Chiarolanza et al, under review). All this raises the question: how did people’s intimate relationships fare during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic?. Relationship research has clearly shown that relationship functioning and individual mental health are strongly associated with one another (Whisman & Baucom, 2012)

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