A rebound relationship is a romantic relationship that someone enters into shortly after a breakup, before they have fully processed or emotionally healed from their previous relationship. It often serves as a way to suppress feelings of pain, loneliness, or loss from the breakup

. Key characteristics of a rebound relationship include:

• Starting the new relationship very soon after the previous one ended, often within a few months

• Moving faster than typical relationships, with accelerated intimacy or commitment as a way to convince oneself or others that the new relationship is genuine

• The new partner being compared frequently to the ex, indicating lingering emotional attachment to the past relationship

• The person on the rebound may still be emotionally unavailable, harboring unresolved feelings or fears of commitment

• The relationship may be driven by a desire to avoid feeling alone, get revenge on the ex, or mask emotional pain

Psychologically, rebound relationships are often short-lived because the person is not fully ready to invest emotionally in a new partner, as their core feelings and focus remain on the previous relationship

. Attachment styles and the nature of the breakup (e.g., long-term relationship or infidelity) can influence the likelihood of entering a rebound relationship

. In summary, a rebound relationship is essentially a reactionary relationship formed before one has healed from a breakup, often characterized by emotional instability and a focus on the past rather than the present partner