On / off relationships are big bucks in Hollywood . intact films and television shows depend on our   investment funds in will - they - won’t - they , drawn - out kinship   – Ross and Rachel , Carrie and Big , Joey and Dawson , Kermit and Miss Piggy – but did anyone actually mean they were kinship goals ? A study in the journalFamily Relationshas evoke that on / off relationships can be relate to signs of psychological distraint .

In the study , in which 545 people lead part , 279 were in same - sexual practice relationships and 266 in different - gender relationship . The researchers led by Dr Kale Monk from the University of Missouri looked at symptoms of depression and anxiety during on / off cycling in relationships .

They said that 60 percentage of adults have experienced such a relationship , which have been linked to eminent rates of abuse and gloomy levels of communicating . On / off relationship were more likely to come in manful - male relationships than female - female or sundry sex .

In astatement , Dr Monk observe that breaking up and get back together was “ not always a bad prognostication for a match , ” as it could “ assist partners pull in the grandness of their relationship . ” But those that were repeatedly doing it could cause problems .

“ On the other hand , pardner who are routinely breaking up and come back together could be negatively impacted by the convention , " he said .

Repeatedly snap off up and flummox back together is know asrelationship cycling , and that can be a sign of bigger takings at play . In this cogitation , the authors chance that an increase in human relationship cycling was associated with symptoms like depression and anxiety for both same - gender and heterosexual couples .

" The findings suggest that people who find themselves regularly breaking up and stupefy back together with their cooperator need to ' look under the hood ' of their relationships to determine what ’s going on , " Dr Monk said .

" If better half are honest about the pattern , they can take the necessary footprint to conserve their relationship or safely cease them . This is full of life for preserving their well - being . "

He does offer some tips though . He says that if considering rekindling a kinship , both partners should deliberate why they broke up in the first place and see if that could still be a trouble . Also , he suggest wait at whether amaze back together is a good melodic theme .

If you ’re really bewilder , couples therapy can also be an choice .   And , if the bad comes to worst , he says to recollect that it ’s okay to end a toxic relationship without feel guilty .