Metrics
Repair Velocity
How quickly a couple returns to baseline connection after a moment of rupture. The single strongest predictor of long-term stability in our data.
Definition
Repair Velocity is the time elapsed between a measurable rupture signal and the next measurable reconnection signal between the same two partners. A short Repair Velocity describes a couple that comes back fast. A long Repair Velocity describes a couple that stays apart.
How it is measured
Reported in hours. The rupture signal is the time at which a tone shift, missed-day pattern, gone-dark stretch, or conflict-language event is detected. The reconnection signal is the next positive partner-directed action by either partner. Aggregate reports include both the repair rate (the share of ruptures that ended in reconnection within the lookback window) and the median Repair Velocity. The default lookback is ninety days.
Why it matters
Coming back matters more than never slipping. Across our dataset, Repair Velocity is the single dimension most strongly associated with relationship continuity over time. Couples who fight but repair quickly outperform couples who avoid conflict but never reconnect after it.
Related terms
Cite this entry
Love Pulse Labs. (2026). Repair Velocity. The Lexicon. https://lovepulselabs.com/lexicon/repair-velocity
Definition v1.0. First published May 13, 2026.