- A study of over 11,000 couples found 10 signs that indicate whether a relationship is meant to last or not.
- Five factors are based on individual characteristics: life satisfaction, negative feelings, depression, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance.
- The other five signs are based on the relationship itself: perception of your partner's commitment, appreciation, sexual satisfaction, how happy you think your partner is, and conflict.
The study, published July 29 in the journal PNAS, used
In doing so, the computer found 10 primary indicators that a relationship would last — five variables based on the individuals in the partnership, and five variables based on how they relate.
While the individual factors were influential, the most important factors were the ways they interacted with and treated one another.
"The dynamic that you build with someone — the shared norms, the in-jokes, the shared experiences — is so much more than the separate individuals who make up that relationship," Samantha Joel, the study's first author and the director of the Relationships Decision Lab at Western University, told Inverse.
Here are the 10 factors and what they mean.
How satisfied are you with your life?
Individuals who felt unfulfilled with their lives in general were less likely to continue in their relationship.
Feeling constantly stressed or hopeless
Consistent negative feelings, like stress, were another individual factor that predicted the success of a relationship.
For people who generally held a lot of negative feelings, the computer found, it could impact the longevity of their relationship.
Depression
People dealing with untreated depression faced unique challenges in their
Being constantly anxious in a relationship
Attachment anxiety typically stems from negative relationships observed as a child, like with parents or other family members. It can lead to the feeling of constantly walking on eggshells in a relationship or constantly feeling like a partner is going to leave.
If you or your partner have an insecure attachment style, this might compromise your ability to establish boundaries in your relationship longterm and cause it to fade quickly.
Avoiding commitment
Avoidant attachment styles tend to stay clear of relationships, whether it be for a lack of trust in other people to show up for you or a fear of being hurt.
If you or your partner are avoidant, this could make it difficult to fully commit to a relationship and jeopardize how long it will last.
How committed do you think your partner is?
The study authors found your perception of your relationship largely contributes to how long it will last, including how committed you think your partner is to you.
If you think your partner is in it for the long haul, chances are the relationship will last longer.
Do you appreciate your partner?
If you wake in the morning thinking you're absolutely lucky to be with your partner, this is a good indicator you two are going to last.
How satisfied are you with your partner sexually?
A good sex life is key to a long-lasting relationship.
How happy do you think your partner is?
If you think your partner is happy in your relationship, this could positively impact your overall dynamic.
How often do your fight with your partner?
You and your partner constantly fighting is a telltale sign things are going downhill quickly. Likely, you two won't last.
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