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If there are no real rules on what makes a happy couple, a new study has put its finger on one component: a particular romantic behavior would make women more satisfied with their relationship and better about themselves. What is it?
Year after year, a couple can run out of steam. We get annoyed, we feel less good together, we find ourselves less attractive and above all less beautiful (it’s a rather feminine trait)… Unless we find a way to boost our relationship on a daily basis. But according to a new study, some couples escape this pitfall thanks to an everyday behavior: affectionate touch. By that, mean being tactile with your partner.
A caress here, a kiss there… the key to a happy relationship?
A team of researchers conducted a study to determine if this was the case, on 1,156 women, aged 18 to 72, involved in a romantic relationship. Three quarters were married and had at least one child.
Study participants reported how often they engage in affectionate contact with their partner (this includes cuddling, holding hands, kisses, tapping, and many other forms of skin-to-skin contact), their sexual orientation, and their body satisfaction. They also completed a relationship satisfaction assessment (the overall measure of relationship satisfaction).
The results showed that women who reported engaging in affectionate contact more often tended to be more satisfied with their body, their romantic relationship and their sexual satisfaction and that a link existed between these three aspects.
A better self-image is beneficial to the couple
“We found that more frequent affectionate touch was associated with better body satisfaction. Additionally, body satisfaction partially enhanced the links between affectionate contact and relationship satisfaction or sexual satisfaction. This suggests that affectionate touch improves relational functioning in part through improvements in self-evaluations related to one’s body or physical appearance. Such an impact could subsequently impact overall mental well-being; This is a question for future research”concluded the authors of the study.
However, what the study does not say is the direction in which it works. Thus, it is unclear whether it is affectionate contact that leads to better relationship quality or whether partners whose relationships are better engage in more affectionate contact. If in doubt, do not hesitate to show your understanding with a little caress on the arm.
Slide: The 10 caresses that women prefer