Whether you are married, living together or taking things slow, it is never easy to leave a relationship - no matter how long you have been with that particular person.
A hard decision to make for many, it would be great if we KNEW that the end was nigh just to give us a heads up to get our stuff in order.
But now you can, and it has nothing to do with Mystic Meg. No, this time science has your answer.
To figure out if you and your other half are for keeps, experts at the University of Tennessee decided to give 83 college students in a serious relationship a questionnaire titled: “Stages of Change in Relationship Status (SCORS)”.
Here they developed a scale to assess the stages they believe characterise the ending of close relationships.
After two months they decided to go back and ask the same people about their relationship.
And many had actually ended.
But why?
Well, according to the results of the survey, the SCORS shows the five stages a couple goes through before their relationship is about to end.
So, if you can relate to these you know that the end is nigh.
1. You don’t think there’s need for change
There’s no motivation to change your daily routine
2. You’re starting to think that something needs to change
You’ve got a feeling that something’s not right.
3. You’re working up the courage to tell yourself that it’s not working
This can actually be a long and tough stage.
4. You know that it’s over
You distance yourself from your partner or you tell them that it’s over.
5. You’ve made your decision
You get your stuff and move out or tell them that it’s time to go.
