Long Term Study on Relationships Reveal Reason Why Rebound Partnerships Tend to Fail

A recently published relationship study conducted by researchers of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada concluded that new romantic relationships will not have much difference from the last one.

 

According to lead author of the study, Matthew Johnson, a relationship researcher and a professor in the Human Ecology Department of the U of A, starting a new partnership does not necessarily mean things will be different.

 

After conducting an 8-year study of 554 people in Germany the results of the research showed that eventually, and once the magic of the honeymoon phase has faded, new relationships tend to have the same dynamics as in past broken relationships. New partnerships will likely fall into the same patterns in many aspects.

 

The study, which is regarded as among the firsts to explore the issue long-term, surveyed people at four points:

1. In the year before their first intimate romantic relationship ended

2. In the final year of that first romantic affair.

3. During the first year of the new relationship.

4. Finally, a year after the new relationship..

 

In those four points, several relationship aspects were assessed:

 

• Satisfaction
• Ability to open up to a partner.
• Frequency of sex,
• Frequency of expressing admiration for one’s partner.
• Confidence that the relationship will last.

 

The review revealed that Frequency of Sex and Expressing Admiration for the Partner, remained stable across previous and present relationships, but showed increased frequency in the rebound relationship.

 

According to Professor Johnson, the two aspects are directly dependent on a partner’s behaviour, which is why changes can be expected in those areas. Although the professor also noted that even if sexual frequency increased in new relationships, the level of sexual satisfaction stayed the same.

 

Study Author Says It is Important to Have a Genuine View of a Past Serious Affair When Moving into a Rebound Love

Although people tend to feel that there is something different in a rebound relationship, Professor Johnson said that it is because the new partnership is being compared to the point when the past partnership ended. When a new one is started, the relationship exists outside of the drudgery of everyday life like child care and housework. That is why in new relationships, everything is wonderful at first.

 

Professor Johnson gives advice that it is important to have a clear and genuine view of a past romance before moving into a new one. He reasoned that outcomes of a bad relationship tend to color people’s view of the entire aspects of a relationship, but

”having a more balanced view of the positives and negatives, will give us realistic expectations over a new relationship.”