How Intimate Relationship Can Improve Wellbeing

There is no universal agreement on what relationship does to those who are in it. The views about relationship are as divergent as those involved. However, while many have some miserable tales about theirs, others are quick to attest to the many benefits arising from their bond. But from whatever perspective one may look at relationship, the fact remains that it has some tangible and intangible benefits to man, ranging from improved mental health and longer lifespan to general wellbeing, writes RALIAT AHMED.

One of the benefits of being in a relationship is enhanced mental health even though couples may once in a while get on each other’s nerves. Overall, people in blissful relationships experience significantly reduced mental health problems than those? who are not in any relationship, according to a study early this year, which observed 1,621 people.

The study showed who were not in committed relationships and had more sexual partners also had more physical and mental health problems.
Compared with those in relationships, those not in any relationship at all had comparatively higher levels of depression, anxiety, mood disorders, adjustment problems, suicidal behaviour and other forms of psychological distress.

The study also showed that men and women in relationships experienced equal benefits in terms of mental health. However, the author acknowledged that mental health is likely both a consequence and cause of being coupled up — those with mental health issues are also less likely to be in a committed relationship in the first place.
While in some quarters,? it is believed that love hurts, the reverse may be the case, as love is said to actually help numb pain. The same study examined the relationship between pain relief, feelings of romantic love and activation of reward systems in the brain. Some partners who were in love were subjected to mild pains. On seeing the picture of their loved ones, it distracted them from the pain, but a picture of another person of equal attractiveness was not as helpful.

Images of their brains using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) confirmed that while looking at pictures of their romantic partners, they experienced increased activity in reward-processing regions of the brain and decreased activity in pain-processing regions.

It has also been found that those who are not in any relationship are more prone to psychological stress than those who are in a steady relationship. Relationship status can affect the production of cortisol, a stress hormone, during stressful events. Those who had supportive partners experienced less strain and in turn, were better at tolerating relationship stresses. The researchers also suggested that partners who are satisfied with their relationship are in a better position to provide support when the other partner experiences stressful events.

Relationship can help extend one’s life span. A longitudinal studies and census data have shown that those that are not in a relationship had a higher probability of early death than those who were in one. They had a significantly increased risk of death, even after adjusting to other socio-economic factors. Those in relationships have more support when things are difficult because there is always someone to talk to when there is a problem or to calm them down when things are stressful. All these put together can increase life span.

Studies have shown that when we look at the face of someone that we are truly and happily in a relationship with, it engages certain areas in the brain.

Brain images from fMRI suggest that early-stage, intense romantic love can activate certain dopamine-rich areas in the brain. These areas are associated with reward, desire, addiction and euphoric states. In fact, one of these areas, the anterior cingulate, is responsible for obsessive thinking, cognition and emotion — the characteristics of love.