Relationship Highs and Lows

Relationships take work and with work comes some natural highs and lows. It is important to navigate this properly.

Why this matters for couples

• Because partner responsiveness plays a strong role, focusing on how you respond to each other’s emotional needs can help stabilize and improve satisfaction.

• Recognizing that both partners often experience similar dips means that a “we’re in this together” mindset is important—when one person’s mood or experience shifts, the other may too.

Practical takeaway for couples - Based on the research, here’s a simple action you can try together:

1. Check in regularlyabout how each of you is feeling in the relationship

2. Focus on responsiveness: When your partner shares a need, feeling or concern, aim to reflect it back and respond with care

3. Notice emotional dips: If either of you feels down or dissatisfied, treat it as a signal—not a failure—that something needs attention. Consider what changed that day or week.

4. Work as a team: Remember that satisfaction fluctuations often happen in tandem. It’s less “one partner has a bad day” and more “our relational rhythm shifted”.

5. Support emotional stability: Little things like getting enough rest, managing stress outside the relationship, and being aware of how your mood affects the other can help