What is a Relationship?
A relationship is “the way two or more people are connected, or the way they behave toward each other” (Cambridge University Press, n.d.). Relationships are the connections we build with others and the interactions we have with them over time.
Interactions are made up of one person’s behaviour and another person’s response to it. For example, one person might share information, and the other might listen, give advice, or change the subject. These responses can be verbal or non-verbal, like talking, nodding, ignoring, fighting, or kissing (Hinde, 1976).
Relationships evolve and change throughout our lives. For example, the relationship you had with a parent as a baby is likely very different from the one you have now as a young adult.
There also can be different approaches to relationships depending on cultural backgrounds. For example, according to a paper by Karandashev (2015), non-verbal confirmations of love may be more common among people within collectivistic cultures.
Collectivist cultures are cultures that value community/ group needs over individual needs.
There are many types of relationships, and they involve different kinds of interactions. These might include friendships, classmates, romantic partners, sexual partners, family members, roommates, or even people you follow online. All of these are part of post-secondary student life.
For many young adults, post-secondary is a time of major transition. As your environment changes, your relationships may also shift – some may grow, others may fade, and new ones may begin. This is completely normal and a part of any major transition.
These relationships play a big role in how you feel, learn, and show up every day. They can affect your mental health and be a source of both support and stress, which isn’t always easy to navigate (Darling et al., 2007).
On campus, relationships are everywhere: in residence, student clubs, study groups, part-time jobs, hook-ups, long-distance relationships, shared spaces, classrooms, and more.
Relationships can be fun, supportive, confusing, frustrating, or all of those at once. Knowing how to navigate them can help support your mental health, academic success, and increase your sense of belonging (Lamothe et al., 1995; Pittman & Richmond, 2008; Shochet et al., 2006).
