Love, Lust, or Stress?

Examining the Affects of a College Relationship


The stress of tests, deadlines, and pressure to get good grades are all too familiar to the typical college student.College relationships however can be another leading factor in the many strains of college life.

Although not always recognized as a stress factor, college students may feel overwhelmed with all the new freedoms and responsibilities of having a relationship in college. Fights or break ups can cause a range of emotions, and prevent students from concentrating on their work. Nabia Ali, a VCU senior has dealt with many of these issues,

“It was hard,” Ali said, “Every time my boyfriend and I broke up, my grades would slip. It was so distracting.”

Tammy McKeown, the coordinator of sexual assault and domestic violence services at the wellness resource center at VCU, is also available to students dealing with stressful relationships.

“An unhealthy relationship can definitely have negative consequences on someone’s academic performance. It does cause a lot of stress and people start missing classes or not be able to focus on there school work. This is very common.” McKeown said.

Although distraction from schoolwork is a negative aspect, college relationships can also be very problematic if abuse comes into play. Although abuse can be prevalent in any relationship, it may be an increasing issue in college relationships that many people don’t realize.

“The increase of stress correlates with the increase in abuse.” McKeown said.

Students are advised to look for red flags in their relationships to avoid dealing with the future problems. The wellness center offers pamphlets that illustrate the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Justine Glatter, a VCU senior has learned how ensure a healthy relationship.

“As the years have gone on I’ve matured so I’ve handled the relationship better. I realized that my relationship should never be the main focus of my life, or prevent me from doing as well as I am capable in school.” Glatter said.

College students are advised to maintain respect, trust, honesty, fairness and good communication in their relationships. If red flags do emerge students are encouraged to visit the wellness center at VCU, where they can receive counseling, advice and guidance.