Introduction
Social isolation has left its mark on all areas of human life, including family relationships. Although difficulties often strengthen family unions, many couples in times of pandemic did not succeed in the challenge and decided to leave. The few months of 2020 spent under quarantine restrictions have radically affected the number of divorces globally. Millions of people could not cope with the daily grind, mutual irritation, and life together. This problem is essential and urgent, so its in-depth study, identifying the causes, and finding new solutions is vital today.
Causes of Conflict Formation
For most couples worldwide, quarantine has caused a divorce, and in many families, the relationship between parents and children has deteriorated. Several factors have contributed to this: the limitation of personal space, the unexpected transition from one lifestyle to another, and an increase in stressful situations (Wagner et al., 2020). New conditions give rise to new demands both in society as a whole and in the family, and change is not infrequently associated with disagreements. During a pandemic, couples in a family crisis cannot move apart to live separately from each other, rethink any information, and look at the situation differently. Under the conditions of the self-isolation regime, problems that were not on the surface are revealed, and people who have been in the same place for a long time are forced to solve them. Those who reached an agreement strengthened the relationship, while those who never agreed decided to divorce or critically worsened the relationship.
Ways of Solving Conflicts in the Family
The inability to build a constructive dialogue, correctly express feelings and indicate personal boundaries become the determining factors for increased conflict and difficulty in the relationship. For this reason, it is crucial to find ways to solve all the problems that arise to improve the psychological situation in the family. One of the fundamental aspects of resolving such an issue is dialogue. If there are misunderstandings and claims, it is necessary to talk to each other about them. It is essential to pay attention to the tone of voice, turns of speech, and constructive arguments. People should not turn this dialogue into a quarrel and leave it at the level of discussion.
Another significant factor is the ability to competently make a list of things to do for the day and distribute them among family members. If there are children, it is necessary to help them in ranking responsibilities and prioritizing them. All plans should be coordinated and discussed to eliminate unpleasant contingencies and make each family member’s work and rest valuable and efficient. This way will help structure the day and avoid potential conflicts related to removing responsibility for one thing or another.
The key for families living in small spaces is to have privacy. The main principle of comfortable coexistence is to respect the interests of each family member. Everyone has their own needs and personal boundaries; they are individual and should not be adjusted to any standards. It is necessary to discuss when and how it is comfortable to spend time alone. It is also essential to develop everyday activities, especially in situations where there are children in the family (Feinberg et al., 2021). This way will not only improve relationships during a pandemic but will also teach future appreciation and respect for one’s personal space and others.
Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has provoked the processes and consequences not only regarding the physical health of the person but also his psycho-emotional state, the microclimate in the narrow circle of close people. The mental health of each family member and the overall positive psychological environment around are fundamental factors for a living environment. The key to improving relationships is a conversation: it is vital to talk about all negative things before they turn into a quarrel. The success of a family is not about whether there are conflicts but about how they are resolved.
References
Feinberg, M. E., Mogle, J. A., Lee, J. K., Tornello, S. L., Hostetler, M. L., Cifelli, J. A., Bai, S., & Hotez, E. (2021). Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on parent, child, and family functioning. Family Process. doi:10.1111/famp.12649
Wagner, B. G., Choi, K. H., & Cohen, P. N. (2020). Decline in marriage associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Socius, 6, 1-8. doi:10.1177/2378023120980328