Stress can cause romantic couples to focus on their partner's most annoying bad habits, according to a new study from Lisa Neff, a University of Texas at Austin associate professor of human development and family sciences, whose work was featured in several prominent media publications.
he study was published in September in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science.
"We found that individuals who reported experiencing more stressful life events outside of their relationship, such as problems at work, were especially likely to notice if their partner behaved in an inconsiderate manner," Neff said.
Researchers asked 79 heterosexual newlywed couples to complete a short survey each night for 10 days, in which they documented both their own and their partner's behavior. Before beginning this portion of the study, participants completed a questionnaire in which they shared details on stressful events in their life.
Studying newlyweds drives home the significance of the results, Dr. Neff said, because couples are especially likely to focus on each other's positive behavior and overlook negative actions during the "honeymoon" period.
Read more about the study:
Life's stresses can make people focus more on their romantic partner's negative behavior | The Week
Honeymoon's over: Stress makes romantic couples focus on their partner's worst habits | Study Finds
How Stressful Life Events Can Threaten New Relationships | Psychology Today
Common condition 'makes you notice your partner's annoying habits MORE', scientists warn | The Sun
How to Stop Stress from Infecting Your Relationship | Robert Roy Britt on Medium
Stressed-Out Newlyweds Are More Apt to See Spouse's Flaws | Everyday Health
