The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 8 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on April 30, 2021.
Elizabeth Ramirez ’22
Staff Writer
COVID-19 has affected young adults’ romantic relationships for better or worse. The way different couples have navigated this offers a reflection on the future of relationship dynamics as we continue adapting to a world with restrictions. Students and faculty from Lake Forest College weighed in on their knowledge and experiences.
“Language and how you communicate with your romantic partner is probably going to be more crucial now than ever before,” said Dr. Vivian Ta, assistant professor of psychology at Lake Forest College.
Communication is key in a relationship no matter the circumstances, but the presence of different stressors related to COVID-19 has pushed communication to the top of the list of priorities to ensure a successful and healthy relationship.
Language can tell us a lot about how a partner is feeling and can provide more context on what is causing them to feel a certain way. In a time like this, it is essential to do your best to communicate your needs in order to facilitate the resolution of any issues.
Special circumstances that have arisen from the pandemic, such as an optional on-campus. semester this spring, have driven some partners further apart while bringing others closer than ever before. Felix Deiss, a clinical psychology intern at the Health and Wellness Center, said “Moving in with a partner or their family can be difficult, but moving in together can also provide an increased sense of support.”
Before the pandemic, it was harder for Dani Herreweyers ’22, a junior, and her boyfriend of four years to see each other. She lived on campus, but since her boyfriend is not a student at the College, they had to take turns driving on the weekends to see each other. Recently, they bought a house, and living together has strengthened their bond and communication.
“I think spending time with each other in-person has really helped our relationship because that’s how we show love,” Herreweyers said. Resolving conflicts under the same roof is also easier and faster because they’re able to communicate in a clearer way and gauge each other’s emotions. “It’s probably why we have been with each other for so long, because we can talk through our issues,” she shared.
According to Healthline, young adults under 24 have the smallest social circle to lean on and may be spending much of their time alone. Luckily for Jadyn Castro ’22, a junior, she and her boyfriend sleep over at each other’s houses three times a week. Although they have been together for 10 months, they didn’t actually start going out and doing “typical things that people think of as dates” until a few months ago due to COVID-19 restrictions and health concerns. “The pandemic has given us a chance to get to know each other a lot more,” Castro said.
It is important to recognize that, due to the pandemic, this past year has been tough in many aspects, including relationships. Still, we shouldn’t overlook the positive ways it has affected them. Though many of our plans remain interrupted, we have become more creative in finding ways to do things together. Finally, remembering to prioritize your mental health in these times is important, said Ta, “because your health is going to dictate how your relationships are.”
