How relationships affect health?

Relationships play a big part in most people’s lives.  The word relationship can cover friendships, intimate relationships, family relationships, working relationships, and many more.  This question will focus on intimate relationships.

With relationships come ups and downs; there are times in life that can be easier than others, and there are times that life can be more difficult, and therefore the relationship can be strained or can be a struggle.  When relationships are in a positive and healthy place, people often feel more satisfied and content; they feel more confident to handle the difficult issues and decisions that arise in life.  This is because each person knows they have the support and backing of someone else.  Studies have shown that people in a strong and healthy relationship have significantly lower levels of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, and an increased sense of empathy than those in a healthy relationship.  In addition, there are physical benefits to being in a healthy relationship, including a strengthened immune system which can assist someone in recovering from illness faster. There is a possibility those in healthy relationships can have a prolonged life.  In addition, those in healthy relationships have a higher sense of satisfaction with their lives; they have a better quality of life, engage in activities they enjoy, are less lonely, and need less support from professional resources.  In addition, there is also a possibility that dementia or cognitive mental decline will not occur if someone is in a healthy relationship.  This can result from the lower stress level and the increased occurrence of endorphins that are released.

If someone is in an unhealthy relationship (and that can be an abusive relationship or one that is one-sided or one of the partners is taken advantage of), there can be effects both emotionally and physically as well.  People who are in unhealthy or adverse relationships tend to have higher anxiety and depression and higher levels of stress.  When a person is anxious, depressed, stressed, panicked, etc., they do not always make the best decisions for themselves.  In addition, during high times of stress, cortisol is released into the body and impacts a person’s digestion, leading to weight gain, heart problems, and increased possibilities of a stroke.  If a person is in an unhealthy relationship and the other person refuses to or does not acknowledge the unhealthiness, it can cause the other partner to become angry or resentful.  Spending long periods of time feeling that way can also impact a person’s body; it can increase blood pressure and increase blood sugar.

Relationships, healthy and unhealthy, can have such a big impact on a person’s mental or physical well-being without even realizing it.