Relationships at Rice
A deeper look...
Some suggestions for developing meaningful connections include: foster friendships, keep your family ties strong, get involved with a group and build your communication skills. For help with these things you can schedule an appointment with someone in the Wellness Center (x5194, wellness [at] rice.edu) or talk to a psychologist in the Rice Counseling Center (x4867).
Adapted from Core Concepts in Health, Insel & Roth, 2006
Being a Rice student is as much about forming and maintaining positive relationships as it is about academics! From leaving your family and friends, to new roommates, to romantic relationships, it can be challenging to navigate social networks. People need people. Sharing fears, frustrations and joys not only makes life richer but also contributes to your overall well-being. Allow yourself time to nourish and maintain a network of people you can count on for emotional support, feedback and nuturance.
Sexual assault, sexual harassment and dating violence are hidden but widespread problems. Consider these statistics:
- There is physical violence in 1/3 of all dating relationships.
- 1 out of every 6 women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
- 10% to 20% of males will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
Relationship Resources
- Go Ask Alice! Relationships
- Addictive Relationships
- Abusive Relationships
- Institute for 21st Century (Non-traditional) Relationships
Is it good for you?
Healthy relationships have seven basic qualities:
- Respect - Without it, relationships can be hurtful.
- Trust - Without it, relationships can cause jealousy and unhappiness.
- Honesty - Without it, relationships can be hurt by lies and anger.
- Fairness - No one is always right--or wrong.
- Equality - Without it, unhappiness is likely as one partner takes control.
- Responsibility - Remember that you and your partner always have choices, and it's the responsibility of both to make sure things don't get out of hand.
- Good Communication - Without it, there are a lot of misunderstandings.
Healthy relationships require work from both sides. Try to remember the Golden Rule: Don't act towards your partner in a way that you wouldn't want them to behave.
Taken from the "Is This Love? How to tell if your relationship is good for you?" pamphlet created by Planned Parenthood.
Are You Ready for Sex?
Sexy images are everywhere, from television, movies, books, songs, even advertisements. Sexality is a natural and normal part of life, as is sex. But the decision to have any kind of sex play with a partner-from masturbation to flirting, from kissing to petting, from oral sex to intercourse--is a big decision that involves lots of factors. Some things to think about when you're considering beginning a (new) sexual relationship include your personal values and goals, your feelings about the emotional and physical risks involved, whether you are feeling pressured, what you want out of your relationship, and how clear you can be with your partner about boundaries. Having sex with a partner can be a meaningful way to express yourself, but a good sex life is one that keeps in balance with everything you're about--your health, education and career goals, relationships with other people, and your feelings about yourself.
We all have sexy feelings, but we don't always have sex when we have them. When to have sex is a personal choice. Though there is no guarantee that every decision in life we make is going to be perfect, it's usually the case that we make better decisions when we think through the possible benefits and risks. Talk more about your decision to become sexually active with a health educator in the Wellness Center (x5194, wellness@rice.edu) or talk to a psychologist in the Rice Counseling Center (x4867).
Taken from the "How do you know when you're ready for sex?" pamphlet created by Planned Parenthood.
