Most university students break up with a partner over text message, while both sides tend to evade communication, a survey by the Good Shepherd Welfare Foundation found yesterday, as it warned that improper communication increases the chance of conflict.
The foundation administered two separate surveys — one to people who initiated a breakup and another to those who were broken up with.
Among initiators, 41 percent broke the news by texting, while 32 percent met face-to-face, the foundation said in a news release.
Photo: Fang Wei-chieh, Taipei Times
Another 18 percent spoke over the phone, 8 percent cut off contact and 1 percent asked an intermediary to pass along the message.
About half of the initiators said they used personal judgements about their relationship to communicate a breakup, such as “it is not suitable,” or there is “no emotion,” while 24 percent gave vague or abstract reasons, such as saying: “You can find someone you are more compatible with.”
Only about 21 percent of the participants adopted a positive tone and gave specific reasons, such as citing different life goals or values, or saying it would be “better for us both.”
About 6 percent used negative expressions of discontent, such as accusing their partner of “suffocating” them or saying “I never liked you.”
Among those who were broken up with, half said they received a text message, 17 percent said they spoke over the phone and 16 percent said they met in person.
About 9 percent of the respondents who were broken up with said their partner suddenly broke off contact, 4 percent spoke to an intermediary and 4 percent gave other reasons, including the partner using emotional abuse to force a breakup.
In the aftermath, half felt wronged and engaged in self-examination, while 23 percent repeatedly tried to contact their partner and 37 percent avoided discussing the issue.
The foundation said that 18 percent of the participants said they would consider retaliating if they feel disrespected by sharing their grievances online or through emotional blackmail.
College is a time when many couples start to consider and prepare for marriage, said Ting Shu-hui (丁淑惠), director of the violence prevention and social work unit of the foundation’s Taichung center.
Learning to recognize the effects of violence, safe ways to express emotions and how to seek help are key to avoiding conflict, she said, adding that breakups can lead to violent outcomes if not handled well.
The survey found that only 21 percent of those who were broken up with positively communicated their feelings, with the rest choosing avoidance, Ting said.
Triggered by the stressful situation, it is common for one side to avoid while the other pursues answers, Ting said.
However, this lack of empathy and communication can easily lead to misunderstandings, which can make the relationship even worse or result in conflict, she said.
When ending a relationship, it is important to say a proper farewell so each party can move on, she said.
First, couples should take stock of their feelings and reasoning to ease any feelings of shock or panic, she said.
Next, they should work together to accept the facts, resolve negative emotions and eventually let go of the attachment so that both sides can move on, she added.
A NT$39 receipt for two bottles of tea at a FamilyMart was among the NT$10 million (US $312,969) special prize winners in the January-February uniform invoice lottery. FamilyMart said that two NT$10 million-winning receipts were issued at its stores, as well as two NT$2 million grand prizes and three NT$200,000 first prizes. The two NT$10 million receipts were issued at stores in Pingtung County and Yilan County’s Dongshan Township (冬山). One winner spent just NT$39 on two bottles of tea, while another spent NT$80 on water, tea and coffee, the company said. Meanwhile, 7-Eleven reported three NT$10 million winners — in New Taipei
Considering that most countries issue more than five denominations of banknotes, the central bank has decided to redesign all five denominations, the bank said as it prepares for the first major overhaul of the banknotes in more than 24 years. Central bank Governor Yang Chin-lung (楊金龍) is expected to report to the Legislative Yuan today on the bank’s operations and the redesign’s progress. The bank in a report sent to the legislature ahead of today’s meeting said it had commissioned a survey on the public’s preferences. Survey results showed that NT$100 and NT$1,000 banknotes are the most commonly used, while NT$200 and NT$2,000
ANNUAL EVENT: Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in Daan Park, with an event zone operating from 10am to 6pm This year’s Taipei Floral Picnic is to be held at Daan Park today and tomorrow, featuring an exclusive Pokemon Go event, a themed food market, a coffee rave picnic area and stage performances, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said yesterday. Two massive Pokemon balloons are to be set up in the park as attractions, with an exclusive event zone operating from 10am to 6pm, it said. Participants who complete designated tasks on-site would have a chance to receive limited-edition souvenirs, it added. People could also try the newly launched game Pokemon Pokopia in the trial area, the department said. Three PokeStops are
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) yesterday reported the first case of a new COVID-19 subvariant — BA.3.2 — in a 10-year-old Singaporean girl who had a fever upon arrival in Taiwan and tested positive for the disease. The girl left Taiwan on March 20 and the case did not have a direct impact on the local community, it said. The WHO added the BA.3.2 strain to its list of Variants Under Monitoring in December last year, but this was the first imported case of the COVID-19 variant in Taiwan, CDC Deputy Director-General Lin Ming-cheng (林明誠) said. The girl arrived in Taiwan on
RSS