New research on relationship cycling by NCFR members J. Kale Monk, Ph.D., CFLE, Brian G. Ogolsky, Ph.D., and Ramona F. Oswald, Ph.D., published in Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science (FR) has been prominently featured by major media outlets around the world including the Business Insider, New York Post, New York Magazine, Science Daily, and TIME.

Their study of data from over 500 individuals currently in relationships discovered a link between "on-again, off-again" relationships and psychological distress symptoms such as depression and anxiety. There was no meaningful difference found between the results of same-sex and heterosexual relationships.

“Breaking up and getting back together is not always a bad omen for a couple,” says Dr. Monk, who found a silver lining in the results: “In fact, for some couples, breaking up can help partners realize the importance of their relationship, contributing to a healthier, more committed unions.” The authors also provided suggestions for individuals, and practitioners, for evaluating their relationship such as thinking about the reasons for the break up to determine if there are consistent or persistent issues impacting the relationship.

Read more about the study on the University of Missouri website.

Subscribers of FR can log in to the NCFR website and visit the FR access webpage to read the full text of their article, Coming Out and Getting Back In: Relationship Cycling and Distress in Same‐ and Different‐Sex Relationships, on the website of our journal publisher, Wiley Blackwell.

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