Relationships Australia has the released the Relationship Indicators of 2022.
This project is a nationally representative survey into the state of relationships in Australia. The findings will inform how we can best place our efforts to support all Australians to achieve positive and respectful relationships.
Relationships Australia had previously conducted the Relationships Indicators Survey from 1998 – 2011. In response to the enormous effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic and other challenges in recent years the survey was reinvigorated. Recognising the shift in relationships, Relationships Australia were interested in gaining a better understanding of these changes at a national level. The project has a renewed focus on research design and method.
Key Findings
The findings of Relationship Indicators 2022 tell us that all types of relationships are important to our wellbeing and satisfaction with life. They also prevent loneliness and mental ill-health. However, relationships are challenged by internal and external pressures and an inability or unwillingness to seek help when issues arise.
The continued impact of the pandemic and the rising cost of living was evident throughout the report.
The study found concerning increases to the levels of loneliness in Australia.
Loneliness has been associated with poor physical health outcomes, mental ill-health and suicidality.
Despite these challenges, the report also uncovered an inability or unwillingness to seek help when relationship issues arise, with 46.2% reporting they managed their relationship issues on their own.
This report has demonstrated the integral role relationships play for our health, wellbeing and happiness. The survey reveals the significant need to support people across the country to maintain healthy and respectful relationships, particularly in light of the many, often concurrent, pressures that people in Australia currently face.
From these findings, we can see that support services must be tailored to meet the needs of various communities, and targeted at responding to the external pressures that people face in these uncertain times. The findings from this research will be used to support our service provision and advocacy efforts to achieve a society where respectful relationships flourish.
