A new study published in Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy reviews what we know — and don’t yet know — about how conspiracy theories, disinformation and political polarization affect intimate relationships.

While public debate often focuses on conspiracy theories as a societal or political problem, much less attention has been paid to the personal consequences they may have behind closed doors. Yet, despite growing evidence that conspiracy thinking has surged since the COVID-19 pandemic, research on its impact within couples remains scarce.

I recently spoke with Dr. Kara Fletcher, the lead author of the study, to discuss what prompted this review, why so little scholarship exists in this area and what the findings might mean for couples and therapists. Here’s a summary of our conversation.

What motivated you to review the literature on conspiracy theories, disinformation, political polarization and their impacts on intimate relationships?

As a therapist, I have seen a large increase in my clients talking about the impact on conspiracy theories and disinformation, particularly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. My clients were describing no longer recognizing their spouse or romantic partner, and feeling lost and alone.

When I turned to the literature, I was surprised to see scant results. Along with my research team, we decided to conduct a scoping review to better understand what research exists. My research team is now exploring the impact of conspiracy theories on intimate relationships through a pilot study, where we are conducting interviews with individuals who have been affected by their intimate partner’s belief in conspiracy theories and disinformation.

What were the key insights of the two relevant studies you found, and why do you think it is that so little research has been done in this area?

The relevant studies found highlighted what we suspected — that conspiracy theories and disinformation can negatively impact intimate relationships. I suspect little research has been done in this area, because it can be hard to study.

In our experience trying to interview those affected for our ongoing pilot study, we have found people are nervous to share what is happening with their partner, and do not want them to find out. I think there is also a protective element, in many cases people still love their partner, and are hopeful that their ideas will change with time, or that they will return to being the person they knew earlier in the relationship.

Lastly, I think COVID-19 and other political and social media influences have increased beliefs in disinformation and conspiracy theories, making this issue more common in the past few years.

Many people have experienced conflict with partners or loved ones over their beliefs and political views. What does your review suggest about the risks that conspiracy theories pose to relationship health?

Conspiracy theories can damage relationship health because couples are encountering value clashes and realizing that they no longer understand their partner. In our pilot study interviews, people have described no longer speaking with their partner about anything other than day-to-day household management, as other discussions go nowhere and end in conflict.

Do you think the impact on relationships is more about the content of the conspiracy theories themselves, or the trust and communication breakdowns they can lead to?

Good question. I think the impact on relationships is more about what the belief in those conspiracy theories represent — whether that’s believing something that now creates a fundamental clash in values, or the idea that your partner can adopt a belief that seems inconceivable to you. I think this causes disillusionment and causes the intimate partner to question, "Who are you, and what did you do with my partner?"

How might your review inform couples therapists, or couples who are divided by misinformation or conspiracy thinking themselves?

I have already had people email me thanking our team for writing this review as it has helped them realize they're not alone in being in a relationship with someone who believes in conspiracy theories. Our review was the beginning of our larger work to find ways to support these couples and provide useful information to support the couple therapists who work with them.

Curious if your own belief in conspiracy theories could be impacting your relationship? Take this science-backed test to find out: Generic Conspiracist Beliefs Scale