brilliantearth.comAussie couples! Have you started shopping around to buy a diamond engagement ring in Melbourne, Brisbane or Sydney? You’re ready to pop the question and, hopefully, spend the rest of your life with your beloved. You vow to make him or her as happy as they can be and cater to their every whim. Sounds ideal. But whose happiness is actually more important in the marriage? Surely it’s a 50-50 split when it comes to happiness?
Well, according to one study, when it comes to a long-term, happy union, it’s the guy’s attitude, health and happiness that matters the most. “If the wife is in poor health,” says the research, “there won’t be much difference in terms of the marriage’s quality for the husband.”
Study by the University of Chicago
The research done by the university has found that agreeability and good health on the husband’s part are essential to preventing relationship issues rising later on in the marriage. The study focused on couples who had been together for 10 years or longer.
During the study it was found that such characteristics in wives seem less important in preventing marital issues. This could be due to the different things men and women seem to believe build solid relationships.
Further Findings
Before you rush out to buy diamond engagement rings in Brisbane Sydney, Melbourne or Adelaide, read the following tips.
The study found that wives tend to report more conflict if the husband is of poor health. But if the wife is in poor health, there doesn’t seem to be much difference in terms of the quality of the marriage for the man.
A Bit More About the Study
The study, “Marital Conflict in Older Couples: Positivity, Personality and Health” took its results from a national survey of nearly 1000 married couples of those living together. All the participants were between the ages of 63 and 90 and the average relationship length was 39 years. Characteristics of husbands were compared after interviews with the participants. During the interviews, the participants were asked to describe themselves.
What researchers found was gender differences when they examined the personality traits of conscientiousness, experience, agreeableness, extroversion and anxiety. Positivity was also included in terms of a person needing to be viewed in a positive light.
Wives whose husbands had higher levels of positivity tended to report less conflict. But wives’ positivity on the other hand had zero association with the husband’s report of conflict, it was found.
A Summary of the Research of Marital Conflict
A summary of the report found that problems in marital relationships tend to include spouses irritating one another, criticising one another or being too demanding.
What’s more, the research found that men who describe themselves as extraverts or neurotic seem to have wives who complain about the relationship. In contrast, men with seemingly neurotic wives deem worrying as gender-appropriate for the women. Overall, mean report more demands and criticism from women but also high levels of emotional support.
What About Previous Studies?
A few other studies have focused on the implications of marital status on health. The research has allowed those doing it to study individual marriages and not just married individuals. Reports were drawn on the quality of a marriage from each person, their own health and own personalities.
And researchers are saying the future studies need to examine whether or not low-conflict marriages involve a balance of emotional responsibilities between man and wife along with the absence of frustration factors like dismal health and negative attitudes.
One previous study conducted by the University of California found that wives seem to be better at keeping the peace than husbands. Wives are also better at calming down following nasty arguments.
Emotions like contempt and anger can be very threatening for couples. But the study suggests that is spouses, particularly wives, can calm themselves quickly, the marriage can continue to thrive.
There’s still hope
Don’t lose hope though, dear Aussies. Ultimately it’s all about give and take and 50-50 dedication and commitment to the relationship. So go out and buy diamond engagement rings in Brisbane, Sydney or wherever other city you are in. Australia has the best ones to offer. So continue to work on your relationship long after “I do”.
