Relationship dynamics have long been outdated, with all kinds of people, regardless of culture or class, coming to the consensus: “happy wife, happy life,” according to Cheryl Harasymchuk, a psychology professor at Carleton University.
Harasymchuk was part of a research study that hoped to debunk the claim that a woman’s satisfaction predicts the longevity of heterosexual relationships.
The study found both men and women’s satisfaction is predictive of long-term success within a relationship.
The research team collected data from two previous research articles, which surveyed a combined total of more than 4,000 mixed-gender couples across Canada, the U.S. and Germany.
The team tracked the relationship satisfaction—how fulfilled a partner feels—of more than 900 mixed-gender couples daily for three weeks, and of 3,405 mixed-gender couples each year over the span of five years, according to Harasymchuk.
“[Both articles] looked into how current relationship satisfaction is compared to short-term and long-term future satisfaction with their partner,” Harasymchuk said.
Justin Lavner, a clinical psychologist at the University of Georgia and supporting researcher on the study, said women have long been regarded as the “barometers” of relationships.
“The idea [is that women] can pick up on things better, and be better predictors [of the relationship] than men are,” Lavner said.
The study results published in August show both men’s and women’s satisfaction levels predict the future of a relationship, Harasymchuk said.
“I think the findings are really important, because they speak to this idea that men and women affect how things go—for good and for bad,” Lavner said.
Since both men’s and women’s satisfaction equally predict the future of the relationship, Harasymchuk said there must be a combined effort to sustain the relationship from each partner.
Hoping to change the stigma surrounding relationship indicators, she proposed the phrase, “happy spouse, happy house.”
“Relationship satisfaction changes on a daily basis … It’s really important to take stock of what’s going on in your relationship,” Harasymchuk said. “If you notice that something is going well, it’s time to double down on it, not take a break. Those investments you make today, they can benefit you the next day and also down the road.”
Featured graphic by Cara Garneau.
