“What Just Screams ‘This Couple Isn’t Going To Make It’?” (43 Answers)

"When couples have a strong foundation, you tend to see open communication, emotional safety, and mutual respect," Holly Schiff, Psy.D., tells Bored Panda.

She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island, as well as a registered telehealth psychologist in Florida, and says people in healthy relationships "are able to disagree without it escalating into destructive conflict."

"They show genuine curiosity about each other's inner worlds. Another positive sign is adaptability. Couples who are able to navigate stress as a team rather than turning against each other are more likely to sustain their bond long-term. The ability to repair after a disagreement is also a powerful sign of resilience," Schiff adds.

A massive study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences analyzed data from 43 longitudinal studies involving over 11,000 couples to identify the most reliable predictors of relationship satisfaction. These turned out to be:

1. Perceived partner commitment
2. Appreciation
3. Sexual satisfaction
4. Perceived partner satisfaction
5. Conflict
6. Life satisfaction
7. Negative affect
8. Depression
9. Attachment avoidance
10. Attachment anxiety

However, the researchers noted that changes in relationship quality over time were largely unpredictable from any combination of self-reported variables, suggesting that while certain factors are associated with relationship satisfaction, predicting future changes remains complex.

Echoing the study's findings, Schiff thinks it's rare for outsiders to ever truly understand the full picture of a couple's relationship, since so much of it remains private.

That said, if she were asked to pinpoint some of the warning signs herself, the psychologist says, "Chronic contempt is one of the most concerning markers because it erodes respect over time—this can look like eye rolling, belittling, or sarcasm."

"A consistent lack of communication, emotional withdrawal and an unwillingness to work through problems also raise red flags" and "outsiders might notice things like constant public criticism or a lack of warmth."

"These often point to deeper struggles behind closed doors that we don't see. While only the couple truly knows their story, some of these observable patterns can be meaningful indicators," Schiff adds.