Research Paper Example: Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships

Healthy relationships are an essential part of healthy living. However, relationships are never perfect but are capable of enriching our lives as well as adding enjoyment to our lives. For a relationship to be healthy, there should be mutual respect, support, fairness, trust, excellent communication as well as a send of fondness. Healthy relationships are relationships that are central to recovery for romance and good relations. Unhealthy relationships arise when one or both partners are unhappy and uncomfortable. These unhealthy relationships can cause harm as domestic violence is one of their characteristics. In lousy relationship cause stress and pressure that is hard to avoid. This is brought by lack of proper communication, mistrust, lack of respect for others.

There are social perceptions that past experiences and habits that have been developed during emotional connections can enable one to judge if a relationship is healthy or unhealthy. These attitudes are misleading, and others can skew how we view current situations. Some laws govern relationships for instance laws against domestic violence. Relationships have evolved as now both men and women play an active role in the relationship as opposed to the traditional setting where the man was the master of the relationship. Therefore, the key to sustain the evolved relationships is through proper communication and sharing.

Studies show that the violence that is witnessed in teenage dating can be associated with particular mental health issues such as suicide, low self-esteem and eating disorders that are present during the adolescent period. These problems have also been associated with repeated abuse and victimization by an adult (Ackard & Neumark-Sztainer, 2002).

Research shows that there are adverse consequences that are as a result of teen dating violence. The adverse outcomes that are associated with dating violence as a teenager are mental health issues that include PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse and worse education outcomes as grades deteriorate (Banyard & Cross, 2008).

There are substantial similarities in teenage dating violence in rural settings that are different from the urban areas hence the dating violence problem is a significant problem in the rural settings as opposed to the urban environments (Breiding, Ziembroski & Black, 2009). Studies have proved an exciting fact such that women are rated higher than men if they leave the abusive relationship that if they stayed with the oppressor. It was also found that people tend to sympathize with women in situations of domestic violence (Halket, Gormley, Mello, Rosenthal & Mirkin, 2014). There is a substantial percentage of women who have experienced at least one instance of unhealthy romantic relationship. In Australia, the rate is thirty percent which may differ slightly with the United States value.

Domestic violence has led to various effects on the partners involved such as financial constraints, substance abuse, and homelessness. This is because unhealthy relationships lead to divorce and separation. Individuals taking alcohol experienced higher rates of domestic violence as well as aggression as compared to those that do not use alcohol (Quigley & Leonard, 2004). Domestic violence usually leads to physical abuse hence may be a risk to ones health and even life.

References

Ackard, D. M., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2002). Date violence and date rape among adolescents: associations with disordered eating behaviors and psychological health. Child Abuse and Neglect, 26(5), 455-473.

Banyard, V. L., & Cross, C. (2008). Consequences of teen dating violence:

Breiding, M. J., Ziembroski, J. S., & Black, M. C. (2009). Prevalence of rural intimate

Halket, M., Gormley, K., Mello, N., Rosenthal, L., & Mirkin, M. (2014). Stay With or Leave the Abuser? The Effects of Domestic Violence Victim's Decision on Attributions Made by Young Adults. Journal Of Family Violence, 29(1), 35-49.

Quigley, B. M., & Leonard, K. E. (2004). ALCOHOL USE AND VIOLENCE AMONG YOUNG ADULTS. Alcohol Research & Health, 28(4), 191-194.