26 mars 2025|
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|8 months agoSwiss Research Reveals Key Timeline in Relationship Breakdowns
University of Bern study identifies critical two-year window before relationship dissolution, offering new insights into partnership dynamics and mental health.
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Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- A critical 'rapid decline' phase in relationship satisfaction begins one to two years before separation.
- Relationship dissolution occurs in two distinct phases: a gradual decrease in satisfaction followed by a sharp, rapid decline.
- Relationship satisfaction naturally hits a low point after ten years, which is not necessarily a sign of impending separation.
- Data was derived from four long-term studies across Germany, Australia, the UK, and the Netherlands.
By The Numbers
100%
Separation rate after rapid decline
7 to 28 months
Time to separation
1-2 years
Warning window
They Said
"Once this phase has been reached, separation occurs later without exception."
"If the partners are in the preterminal phase, before things start to go downhill, efforts to improve the relationship can be more effective."