Holiday Reflection or Final Straw?Why Many Couples Reevaluate Relationships in December

As the year draws to a close, psychologists at Thrive Wellbeing Centre are observing a familiar pattern: December is one of the most emotionally revealing months for couples. While the holidays are culturally associated with warmth, celebration, and connection, they also act as a powerful psychological lens - one that brings simmering relational issues into sharp focus.

“December often invites a different kind of awareness,” says Rita Figueiredo, M.Sc., Clinical & Health Psychologist at Thrive. “The pace slows, routines shift, and community rituals take over. Couples who have been moving through the year on autopilot suddenly find themselves noticing what had been muted by daily life. The holiday context highlights emotional patterns that were easier to overlook in earlier months.”

According to Figueiredo, this shift is not just emotional but systemic. The holiday season activates multiple relational networks - family of origin, cultural traditions, and social expectations - which profoundly influence how each partner shows up. Psychological research supports this seasonal sensitivity: rituals and holiday decision-making often illuminate deeper themes of loyalty, belonging, responsibility, and emotional safety.

Evidence also suggests December is a relational “stress test.” A large‐scale study by the University of Washington analyzed research from 2001 to 2015, showing consistent spikes in separation and divorce filings following major holiday periods. In a separate survey of 1,011 married Americans, 88% reported increased stress during the holiday season, 45% identified managing family dynamics and obligations as their top holiday stressor, 59% admitted comparing their relationship to others during the holidays, and 14% indicated the holiday season made them question the future of their relationship.

“The end of the year carries its own kind of pressure,” adds Juan Korkie, M.A., Clinical Psychologist at Thrive Wellbeing Centre. “Everything slows just enough for the noise to fade, and in that quiet, things surface. December intensifies whatever is already there. For many couples, the contrast between the idealized holiday narrative and their lived experience becomes impossible to ignore.”

Korkie explains that returning to family environments often triggers inherited relational blueprints - the early templates that shape how individuals understand love, safety, and conflict. “The holidays don’t create problems,” he says. “They expose them. What couples choose to do with what they see determines whether the season becomes a breaking point or the start of repair.”

Despite the strain, both psychologists emphasize that December is also rich with opportunity. With greater awareness comes the potential for deeper connection, more honest communication, and the courage to address long-standing issues. Thrive’s clinicians recommend that couples proactively discuss expectations, clarify holiday roles, and create intentional moments of connection. When conversations feel too charged or uncertain, seeking therapeutic support can help partners map their patterns and build healthier relational strategies.

“December offers a pause - one that can reveal strain, but also hope,” says Figueiredo. “While some couples reach a point of rupture, many use this clarity to reset, realign, and move forward more intentionally.”

As GCC residents navigate the emotional complexity of the festive season, Thrive Wellbeing Centre encourages couples to view this period not as a threat but as an invitation - to awareness, to honesty, and to growth.

For additional information and resources, please visit www.thrive.ae