According to LoveIsRespect.org, there are many components that encompass a healthy relationship:
- Communication: Communication is a key part to having a healthy relationship. If something is bothering you, speak up versus holding it in.
- Respect: In a healthy relationship, you respect your partner and their beliefs and values. Mutual respect is essential in having a healthy relationship.
- Compromise: Disagreements happen, but it is important to engage in compromise. Healthy relationships make sure to settle disagreements in a fair and understanding way for both parties.
- Be supportive: In healthy relationships, it is important to build your partner up, not tear them down.
- Respect each other’s privacy: It is healthy to have boundaries within a relationship. Healthy relationships require space.
What Isn’t a Healthy Relationship?
Control: Unhealthy relationships are based on power and control, instead of respect and compromise.
Abusive: Your relationship is definitely unhealthy if your partner is abusive in any way. Relationship abuse isn’t just physical. It can be verbal (ex: insults), digital (ex: requiring your Facebook passwords), financial (ex: controlling your money or access to money), and sexual (ex. unwanted sexual activity).
Roommate Relationships
There are several keys to create a healthy relationship with your roommate!
- Patience: This can prevent a lot of conflicts that could come up between you and your roommate! Try to put yourself in their shoes to better understand the situation. Being patient isn’t always easy, but the more you practice being patient with your roommate the easier it will become!
- Communication: Being able to openly communicate with your roommate(s) is a crucial part of getting along and establishing a healthy relationship. At the beginning of the year, sit down with them and establish some ground rules you can both agree on. This will help prevent problems that might pop up during the year. Also decide that if a problem does happen, that you will both sit down and talk in person to resolve the issue.
- Open-minded: Being open minded is very important in keeping a healthy roommate relationship. They might be used to doing things differently than you, but be patient and find a middle ground where you and your roommate can agree.
Campus Resources for Healthy Relationships
Health Promotion and Wellness, Assistant Director
Charlotte Petonic, M.Ed, CHES
crpetonic@ua.edu
Health Promotion and Wellness
205-348-2258
The Counseling Center
205-348-3863
Residential Life (roommate conflict)
Visit reslife.ua.edu or talk to your hall adviser!
