Title: How Depression Affects Young People's Relationships
Headings: How Depression Affects Young People's Relationships
How Depression Affects Young People's Relationships
How Depression Affects Relationships
Interactions Are More Difficult
Withdrawal Can Lead to Social Isolation
When It May Be Depression
What to Do If You Are Depressed and In a Relationship
What to Do If You Suspect Your Loved One Is Depressed
A Word From Verywell

Content: Forming romantic relationships is an important developmental step for adolescents, as teen relationships teach important skills that aid future adult ones. How Depression Affects Relationships
Adolescents with high levels of depressive symptoms may lack problem-solving skills, resulting in difficulty resolving conflict in romantic relationships through early adulthood, according to a study published in The Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology in 2011. 1 ﻿
Researchers investigated the depressive symptoms, problem-solving skills, and conflict resolution behavior of 200 10th-grade students over a period of four and a half years. They suggest that depressive symptoms may interfere with the acquisition of problem-solving skills, which appear to be essential for future romantic relationships. Common symptoms of depression, such as social withdrawal, feeling misunderstood, or irritability, may decrease a child's desire to form relationships at all. Interactions Are More Difficult
Depression often causes people to feel more irritable. This can be problematic in romantic relationships, but it can impact other social interactions as well including those with friends, family, classmates, teachers, and co-workers. Withdrawal Can Lead to Social Isolation
Because interacting with people is often difficult or exhausting when you are depressed, teens and young adults may withdraw from friends and family. People who are depressed may also feel worthless and unworthy, which further exacerbates social withdrawal. Lack of relationships, of course, may deprive such youth of the problem-solving and conflict resolution skills that will serve them well in adulthood.