A recent survey by a US dating social network site sought to answer the question: why are some couples are happier than others?
Over 1,000 committed couples were surveyed regarding love, dating and marriage and it was found that the happiest couples tended to have several factors in common. The survey concluded that the following three factors were most commonly reported by the couples who scored highest for happiness:
- Intimacy
- Honest communication
- Attraction
The most common factor reported by 69% of the happiest couples was physical intimacy. They kissed and showed physical affection to each other several times a day. Little things like a kiss goodbye in the morning, hugging, hand holding etc, made people feel more loved and content. The survey also showed that 28% of happy couples reported having sex at least 2-3 times a week.
They also reported the importance of strong channels of communication. The happier couples said they didn't believe in telling little white lies to their partners, that they could trust each other to tell the truth, however harsh. Frequent conversations about the big stuff - life, love, work, kids, etc - were also a must to remain in tune with each others frustrations, anxieties, successes and plans for the future.
Lastly, the survey found that happy couples believe in the importance of grooming and looking after their appearance to remain attractive for their partner. Making the effort to remain seductive was reported to be a very important part of a happy relationship.
