How Long-Distance Relationships Affect Your Mental Health

Long-distance relationships can be problematic for the growth of a healthy relationship. The ramifications can also affect your mental health in negative ways. But it's also possible to thrive in a long-distance relationship. Distance can indeed make the heart grow fonder.

Trust

When you’re not residing in the same city and you can’t reach your significant other, your imagination might take over. Are they out with someone else? Are they being unfaithful? Do they still care? The physical distance between you both influences the development of romantic relationships or the demise of them according to one study2. Scientists analyzed the partnership progression of couples in nonresidential relationships. Participants included couples aged 20-40 years old. They focused on the variable of distance in travel time between the partners’ homes.

Short-distance relationships meant the partners had to travel less than one hour. Long-distance relationships required travel of one hour or more. Findings showed that couples in long-distance relationships were more likely to separate than those living a short distance away. Lack of trust might have contributed to the end of these relationships. Without trust, some people are filled with fear and anxiety. Just ask yourself if you’re suspicious about the other person, are you being reasonable? Or perhaps you might realize this lack of faith in your partner stems from your own low self-esteem, childhood trauma, or negative past dating experiences.

Communication

 Effective communication enables you both to feel seen and heard. Both people in a couple need to be on board with committing to and maintaining the relationship, especially when miles separate you. It’s a good idea to plan regular times to catch up and share your experiences so you both feel secure in knowing when you’ll connect. Using texts and Facetime can facilitate more communication and increase the odds that you will stay together. Good morning and good night texts are nice to receive, too. Based on a recent study,3 texting helps long-distance relationships by keeping both people in touch. Be sure you don’t argue over texts and don’t rely solely on texts. Texts don’t replace hearing the other person’s voice and tone via phone. Nor does it take the place of reading their body language through video conferencing.