Did couples become closer or more distant during the pandemic?

The COVID-19 pandemic created ample time for couples to be around each other.

Whether that's turned out to be good or bad depends on the individual couple, of course. 

Being stuck at home presented plenty of opportunities for pairs to become closer -- or drift further apart than they already were. 

Those working at home during the pandemic may have had to tend to kids attending school virtually or elderly parents.

That juggling act may have translated into more stress -- whether physical, emotional, mental, financial, or all of the above -- leaving less time and energy for romance. 

Those who may have been considering taking a vacation to disconnect from their daily troubles and reconnect with each other were now forced to hole up, potentially igniting arguments over, say, one partner's tendency to put off family trips for years. 

Then there are those couples that used the extra time to strengthen their bonds -- by improving communication, trying out new things together, resolving sticking points, distributing household chores equitably, shoring up their finances, and taking other steps to put their relationship on a sounder footing. 

Not surprisingly, many couples announced pregnancies during the pandemic while others broke the news of surprising (or not-so-surprising) break-ups.

When couples find themselves having to spend more time together, it can turn them into committed partners, bitter enemies, or a little of both depending on the day of the week.

Does distance make the heart grow fonder, or does familiarity breed contempt?

In a healthy relationship -- one that's equipped to endure life's toughest challenges -- it shouldn't matter whether a couple is in the same room or on opposite corners of the world. 

If they're mutually invested, they'll do whatever it takes to support one another -- to overcome obstacles as a team, as a partnership -- even if they may not always agree on everything. 

But if the pandemic only wound up exacerbating problems the couple was already facing, perhaps it's a warning sign that the relationship may require the intervention of a professional if it stands any chance of surviving.

It probably doesn't bode well if one or both partners find themselves longing for a return to the office so as not to have to spend all day with the other. If that's the case, a serious talk is in order.

In the day-to-day of life, it can be easy to take a partner for granted. The more we picture that person not being around (whether because of death or a relationship gone awry), the more likely we are to appreciate them and thus make beneficial contributions to the relationship.