Social Anhedonia Harms Romantic Relationships: New Study

Social Anhedonia
Spread the love

  • Social anhedonia, a symptom of depression, can contribute to reduced marital satisfaction.
  • Experts recommend availing therapy and developing self-help strategies to combat the consequences of this type of anhedonia.

Depression And Social Anhedonia

Depression is a common mental health disorder that affects millions in the global population. One of the most prominent symptoms of depression is anhedonia, which is the inability to experience pleasure from activities that are typically enjoyable.

Social anhedonia, on the other hand, refers to the lack of pleasure derived from social interactions. Individuals with social anhedonia often experience a reduced ability to form and maintain social relationships. This condition can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can exacerbate depression symptoms.

Social Anhedonia In Couples

Couples who experience social anhedonia may find it difficult to engage in social activities together. The condition can result in a lack of shared interests, causing negative feelings of disconnection and disengagement in the relationship.

Social anhedonia can also lead to communication problems, as individuals may struggle to express their emotions and connect with their partners. This can result in misunderstandings and conflicts that can further damage the relationship.

Can Social Anhedonia Impact Marital Satisfaction?

A team of researchers at Management University, Singapore, surveyed data from a series of studies that involved 80–100 couples as participants.

The latter was asked to complete questionnaires that assessed their social anhedonia, communication strategies, conflict resolution techniques, and marital satisfaction. The findings 1 Tan, K., Jarnecke, A. M., & South, S. C. (2022). Social anhedonia, communication, and marital satisfaction in newlywed couples. Journal of personality, 10.1111/jopy.12798. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12798 revealed that social anhedonia is negatively associated with one’s own and one partner’s marital satisfaction.

Research further affirms that social anhedonia has a significant impact on marriage satisfaction by triggering:

  • Reduced engagement in social activities together
  • Communication difficulties
  • Increased feelings of loneliness and isolation
  • Reduced sexual intimacy,
  • Increased risk of depression and other mental health issues

Bettering Social Interactions And Mental Health

If social anhedonia is affecting your mental health and relationships, it’s essential to seek professional help. A mental health professional can help you understand the condition and provide strategies to manage it effectively.

Consider working on enriching your relationships like developing shared interests and prioritizing physical intimacy. Building a support network of family and friends who can provide emotional support and understanding also helps when it comes to managing social anhedonia symptoms and strengthening relationships.

Know More About –

  1. Relationships
  2. Depression
  3. Loneliness
  1. 6 Ways to Build a Strong Relationship When Struggling With Depression
  2. How to Communicate Unhappiness in Your Relationship So Your Partner Really Hears You
  3. 6 Things To Remember If Your Partner Is Suffering from Depression

References:

  • 1
    Tan, K., Jarnecke, A. M., & South, S. C. (2022). Social anhedonia, communication, and marital satisfaction in newlywed couples. Journal of personality, 10.1111/jopy.12798. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopy.12798

Spread the love
  • Have You Ever Been Lost In A Grocery Store? Researchers Know Why

    A recent study found that the human brain may consider…

  • Mother Suffering Postnatal Depression Killed Her Newborn Baby

    Mother Suffering Postnatal Depression Killed Her Newborn Baby

    Regular mental health counseling can help mothers overcome their postnatal…

  • Depression And Anxiety Raise Risk of C-Section Among Pregnant Women

    Depression And Anxiety Raise Risk of C-Section Among Pregnant Women

    Depression and anxiety in pregnant women may be connected to…

  • Depression Affects 1 In 4 Children In India, Says WHO

    A report by World Health Organization (WHO) mentioned that one…

  • Baby Teeth May Help Predict Mental Health Risks In Later Life

    Baby Teeth May Help Predict Mental Health Risks In Later Life

    The study found that thickness of growth lines in baby…

  • Decent Mental Healthcare Is Beyond Women’s Reach In India

    Decent Mental Healthcare Is Beyond Women’s Reach In India

    Research says that Indian women experience more perceived stigma while…

  • Door-to-door Mental Health Survey For Covid Survivors

    Door-to-door Mental Health Survey For Covid Survivors

    Three medical institutions in Ranchi have taken an initiative to…

  • Sitting For Long Hours Is Linked To Depression And Anxiety: Study

    Sitting For Long Hours Is Linked To Depression And Anxiety: Study

    Long period sitting in the weeks following were likely to…

  • Personal Tragedy Motivates Tribal Women To Help Hundreds Fight Their Mental Illness

    Personal Tragedy Motivates Tribal Women To Help Hundreds Fight Their Mental Illness

    Tribal woman Sumitra Gargai, a member of Ekjut organization, helps…

  • Having A Good Listener Around Can Improve Your Brain Health: Study

    Having A Good Listener Around Can Improve Your Brain Health: Study

    Social interactions prevent cognitive decline in adults.

  • Psychiatrist From Kerala Provides Free Mental Healthcare To Underprivileged in India

    Psychiatrist From Kerala Provides Free Mental Healthcare To Underprivileged in India

    Dr. Manoj Kumar, a Kerala-based psychiatrist, left his UK job…

  • People Enjoy Deep Conversations With Strangers: Study

    People Enjoy Deep Conversations With Strangers: Study

    Deep conversation with strangers benefits people and helps them to…

  • Illness- Or Death-related Messages Motivate Exercise

    Illness- Or Death-related Messages Motivate Exercise

    Fitness apps that emphasize illness and death-related messaging tend to…

  • Exposure To Domestic Violence Delays Babies’ Brain Development

    Exposure To Domestic Violence Delays Babies’ Brain Development

    Study found that infants exposed to domestic violence tend to…

  • Toxicity Of Perfectionism In Indian Society

    Toxicity Of Perfectionism In Indian Society

    Perfectionism may seem beneficial in today’s competitive Indian society, but…

  • Violent Video Games Don’t Lead To Real-Life Violence, Scientists Say

    Violent Video Games Don’t Lead To Real-Life Violence, Scientists Say

    The study found that violent video games don’t lead to…

  • A Cancer Survivor Talks About The Importance Of Mental Health

    A Cancer Survivor Talks About The Importance Of Mental Health

    Farida Rizwan, shares how she battled cancer twice and talks…

  • Short Naps Don’t Relieve Sleep Deprivation, Study Reveals

    Short Naps Don’t Relieve Sleep Deprivation, Study Reveals

    Study found that daytime short naps are not effective

  • Light Workout Sessions Can Boost Memory, Study Reveals

    Mild physical activity can increase the connectivity between parts of…

  • Music Therapy: How It’s Reshaping India’s Approach To Mental Health

    Music Therapy: How It’s Reshaping India’s Approach To Mental Health

    Samay Ajmera, a 26-year-old mental health specialist, shared his journey…

  • Natural Disasters Bring Couples Closer, Study Reveals

    Natural Disasters Bring Couples Closer, Study Reveals

    Natural disasters like hurricanes can bring married couples closer, at…

  • Growing Up With My Mother’s Schizophrenia: A Young Girl’s Story

    Growing Up With My Mother’s Schizophrenia: A Young Girl’s Story

    Nandini Sen, a 24-year-old MBA student from Kolkata, shared with…

  • Researchers Find Why People Remember Stressful Experiences Better

    Researchers Find Why People Remember Stressful Experiences Better

    Stressful experiences are usually remembered more easily than neutral experiences.

  • PTSD Symptoms Vary Throughout The Menstrual Cycle: Study

    PTSD Symptoms Vary Throughout The Menstrual Cycle: Study

    New research found that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms may…

  • “I Started Having Suicidal Thoughts”: A NGO Worker’s Story

    “I Started Having Suicidal Thoughts”: A NGO Worker’s Story

    30-year-old NGO worker Krishna Patwari shared how he battled with…

  • Sleep Deprivation Can Affect Your Walk, Study Reveals

    Sleep Deprivation Can Affect Your Walk, Study Reveals

    Periodically catching up on your sleep can improve gait control…

  • The Indian Scenario Of Going To Work With A Mental Illness

    The Indian Scenario Of Going To Work With A Mental Illness

    Reshma Valliappan, a Pune-based mental health activist, shared her story…