Australian couples have nominated trust as the most important factor needed for a relationship to work, while shared domestic duties aren’t as important anymore.
It should be pleasing to all to see that trust has topped the list across all ages - trust provides a very solid foundation upon which a couple can build a happy relationship.
If a couple trusts each other then they can get through almost anything together. Once trust is breached, it’s very difficult to repair the damage.
Here’s the list of factors Australians told us that make a relationship happy:
- Trust
- Shared values
- Feeling appreciated
- Appreciating your partner
- Friendship
- Clear communication
- Common goals
- Passion and intimacy
- Spending regular quality time together
- Sharing domestic duties
It is interesting to see that the sharing of domestic duties ranked last in the list. As family dynamics change, the question of who is going to unload the dishwasher and take out the bins just isn’t as important anymore.
Most couples are sharing responsibilities, including employment, housework and children, but the downside to this is that couples have less time to spend together.
A survey of 2000 Australians, commissioned by Slater and Gordon's family lawyers also found that shared values, mutual appreciation, friendship and clear communication ranked high.
In fact, clear communication ranked higher with those aged between 25 and 44, while the over 55s thought mutual appreciation was more important. Younger couples have children and mortgages to worry about, so being able to talk to each other openly and honestly is vital.
Older couples are more concerned about whether they are appreciated by their partner. They’ve probably been together a long time and may have started taking each other for granted.
At the end of the day all of these factors – trust, shared values, communication and mutual appreciation – are really important in giving a relationship the best possible chance of lasting.
The contents of this blog post are considered accurate as at the date of publication. However the applicable laws may be subject to change, thereby affecting the accuracy of the article. The information contained in this blog post is of a general nature only and is not specific to anyone’s personal circumstances. Please seek legal advice before acting on any of the information contained in this post.
