Test Result
Low Dyadic Adjustment
“Your results indicate significant relational distress, suggesting that current patterns of connection and agreement are critically strained.”
Your overall pattern
Your results indicate a state of Low Dyadic Adjustment, often referred to in clinical literature as "Relationally Distressed." This score suggests that the current machinery of your relationship is generating more friction than warmth. You likely feel misunderstood, lonely, or exhausted by the effort it takes to maintain connection.
This does not mean you are incompatible people, nor does it mean the relationship is doomed. It means the current dynamic is unsustainable. Couples in this range often struggle with Negative Sentiment Override, where even neutral actions by a partner are interpreted as hostile or uncaring.
"Distress is a signal, not a sentence. It is the relationship's way of screaming that needs are not being met and new tools are required immediately."
Typical behaviors
- Parallel Lives: You may score low on Dyadic Cohesion, indicating you live increasingly separate lives to avoid conflict.
- Gridlocked Conflict: Arguments seem to spin in circles without resolution, often leaving both partners feeling bruised.
- Affection Void: Affectional Expression is likely low; you may feel more like adversaries or strangers than lovers.
Strengths in this pattern
- Key: Honesty: Taking this test and admitting the difficulty requires courage. Denial is the enemy of healing; you have stepped out of denial.
- Key: Potential for Turnaround: Research shows that "Distressed" couples who commit to radical change often build stronger relationships than those who never struggled, because they rebuild on a truer foundation.
Common pitfalls
The "Four Horsemen" risk:
- Criticism & Contempt: You may be attacking your partner's character ("You are lazy") rather than their behavior ("I wish you'd help more").
- Stonewalling: Shutting down and refusing to engage is a common defense mechanism here, but it accelerates the distance.
"Reflection point: Am I waiting for my partner to change first? What would happen if I changed my reaction today, regardless of what they do?"
What you can do next
Small actions you can start today
- Stop the Bleeding: Agree to a "Time-Out" signal. If an argument gets heated, stop for 20 minutes to calm down before continuing.
- Soft Start-up: When you raise an issue, start without blame. Instead of "You never...", try "I feel X when Y happens, and I need Z."
Longer-term directions
- Seek Professional Help: This is the most important recommendation. Couples therapy is designed specifically for this "Distressed" profile. It is very hard to fix a broken system from inside the system.
- Re-evaluate Core Needs: It is crucial to determine if your fundamental values (Dyadic Consensus) are truly incompatible, or if they are just buried under years of hurt.
Disclaimer and when to seek help
This test describes patterns of adjustment based on your self-report. This result is not a medical diagnosis. However, scores in this range often correlate with high stress. If you are experiencing abuse, fear for your safety, or severe depression, please contact a local crisis hotline or mental health professional immediately.