Is ‘Campus Love’ Detrimental to Your Health?: Examining the Negative Effects of Relationship Stress on Academics

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Sadik Omolola

Romantic relationships can undoubtedly bring joy and comfort, but it’s essential to consider how they might impact your academic performance and overall well-being. The truth is, there’s a fine line between ‘campus love’ and stress, and this stress can have adverse effects on your health.

While campus love can be delightful; managing a love life, social interactions, extracurricular commitments, and academic responsibilities can prove to be a formidable challenge. It’s crucial to recognize how romantic relationships can affect your mental, physical, and emotional health.

How exactly can romantic relationships negatively influence your health? The effects of relationship stress can manifest in various ways. For some, it might result in mental symptoms such as anxiety, overthinking, depression, or difficulty focusing on academics. Others may experience physical symptoms like insomnia, constant headaches, or changes in appetite. Coping with stress may lead to irregular eating patterns, which could predispose you to health issues like malnutrition and an increased risk of obesity-related conditions. Additionally, undergoing stress in one’s romantic relationship can exacerbate existing mental health problems.

Being in a stressful relationship can disrupt the body’s stress response, causing an overproduction of cortisol. Cortisol, a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, plays a crucial role in health. Excessive cortisol levels can lead to fatigue, reduced concentration, physical ailments like muscle tension, and digestive problems.

The impact of relationship stress isn’t confined to personal well-being; it can also affect academic performance. According to a study by the American Psychological Association, relationship issues can contribute to lower academic achievement and a higher likelihood of dropping out. Moreover, the time and energy invested in relationships may leave less room for studying, completing assignments, and participating in extracurricular activities. For students already grappling with the balance between academics and social life, adding a romantic relationship to the equation can introduce additional stressors and strain on time management.

Arguments and breakups within relationships can foster a toxic and stressful environment, resulting in feelings of loneliness, insecurity, and inadequacy. These emotional challenges can significantly impact mental health, subsequently affecting academic performance.

To shed light on the ‘campus relationships’ discussion, a 300-level student, who prefers to remain anonymous, shared her experience, emphasizing how ‘campus romance’ had a significant impact on her mental health and academic performance. Her story reflects the potential consequences of relationship stress:
“Everything was going well; I had a strong CGPA at the end of my first year and I was on the path to first class. I met him in my second year, and he was a finalist who rocked my world. The first semester of my second year was incredible. However, things took a turn during the break; he changed so much, becoming distant. When we returned for the second semester, I found myself trying desperately to get his attention, begging him, and doing everything to hold on to the relationship. I wasn’t myself. I experienced severe mental health breakdowns throughout the semester, especially before my exams. I couldn’t concentrate on my academics. When I checked my results, it was far from what I had hoped for and I ended up with a struggling second class”.

The key takeaway is not to cast ‘campus romance’ in a negative light, as many individuals have enjoyed and are enjoying fulfilling romantic relationships, with some even meeting their life partners on campus, but for all students to prioritise their interests in terms of their health and academics. While you don’t need to avoid relationships entirely (in fact, you can’t), ensure that your relationships don’t compromise your well-being and, consequently, your academic pursuits. Your health should always be your top priority.

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