Relationship "Jet Lag" in Long-Distance and Geographically Close Relationships: The Impact of Relationship Transitions on Emotional Functioning

Individuals in romantic relationships must be able to transition between phases in which they are operating as a couple and others when they are operating as individuals. Individuals who struggle to make the mental "set shift" into their current phase may experience disrupted functioning. Importantly, some may be more vulnerable to set shifting challenges; for instance, relationship proximity (long-distance relationships [LDRs] vs. geographically close relationships [GCRs]), relationship satisfaction, and an individual's preference for a particular phase may influence set shifting abilities. The current investigation sought to understand factors which predict challenges in couples' set shifting and how set shifting impacts subsequent emotional functioning. This study surveyed LDR (n = 29) and GCR (n = 30) couples at distinct timepoints: shortly after transitioning into a (a) reunion phase (i.e., physically together) and (b) separation phase (i.e., physically apart). Results found that individuals in LDRs relative to those in GCRs reported greater difficulties set shifting into separation, and these difficulties were associated with greater negative affect postseparation. Those more relationally satisfied reported fewer difficulties set shifting into reunion and subsequently experienced lower negative affect after reuniting. Moreover, one's preferred state was associated with set shifting into each phase and subsequent negative affect. In total, these findings serve as an early step to highlight predictors of challenges across transition between being together as a couple versus being separated. Further research in these areas can provide deeper understanding of how partners make these mental shifts and be most functional when apart and reunited.