How do you determine whether you are in a healthy or unhealthy relationship? Respect for both oneself and others is a key characteristic of healthy relationships. Healthy relationships share certain characteristics that our young people should be taught to expect.
They include:. Mutual respect. Partners should place trust in each other and give each other the benefit of the doubt. Honesty builds trust and strengthens the relationship. In a dating relationship, each partner does not always get his or her way. Each should acknowledge different points of view and be willing to give and take. Good communication. Each partner should speak honestly and openly to avoid miscommunication.
If one person needs to sort out his or her feelings first, the other partner should respect those wishes and wait until he or she is ready to talk. Anger control. We all get angry, but how we express it can affect our relationships with others. Anger can be handled in healthy ways such as taking a deep breath, counting to ten, or talking it out. Fighting fair. Everyone argues at some point, but those who are fair, stick to the subject, and avoid insults are more likely to come up with a possible solution.
Partners should take a short break away from each other if the discussion gets too heated. Problem solving. Dating partners can learn to solve problems and identify new solutions by breaking a problem into small parts or by talking through the situation. Each partner should take time to understand what the other might be feeling. When dating partners have confidence in themselves, it can help their relationships with others. It shows that they are calm and comfortable enough to allow others to express their opinions without forcing their own opinions on them.
Being a role model. By embodying what respect means, partners can inspire each other, friends, and family to also behave in a respectful way. Healthy sexual relationship. Dating partners engage in a sexual relationship that both are comfortable with, and neither partner feels pressured or forced to engage in sexual activity that is outside his or her comfort zone or without consent.
