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most applied in relationships. “Trying to understand partners’ needs, discussing problems with them, and showing more interest were among the most likely strategies to be used,” the authors explain in the research.</p><h2 id="cc22">Improving the relationship</h2><p id="7dfc">The first study interviewed 219 Greek participants, 121 of whom were <b>women</b>, using an open-ended questionnaire to identify different strategies each person would use to improve their relationship. Of the volunteers, 38% were actually in a relationship. The results from this first moment showed 81 tactics used.</p><p id="60c0">Then, the experts decided to find the best strategies from these 81 identified. To do this, they increased the sample size to 511 people (309 women), who were on average around 35 years old, of whom 36% were in a relationship. Participants received the new list with 81 strategies and answered “to what extent” they would use each strategy to improve the relationship.</p><p id="30ea">When listing the answers, the top five most used <b>strategies</b> were: “Try to understand the other partner’s needs and desires”, “Discuss problems together and be more open to expressing your concerns”; “Show more interest in the other partner and spend more time together”; “Have more experiences together, including date nights and <b>travel</b> ” and finally, “Build trust and be more honest and respectful.”</p><p id="6cd4">“We found that

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trying to understand partners’ needs, discussing problems with them, and showing love were rated as the most effective strategies. <b>Men and women</b>, and people of different ages, generally agreed on which strategies they were willing to use and how effective those strategies would be in improving their relationships with their partners,” the researchers report.</p><p id="11ec">The strategy about improving your <b>physical appearance</b> or even individual issues came in last place, indicating that many are more concerned about the dynamics of the relationship than, in fact, being a more attractive partner.</p><h2 id="dcd2">Talking is the first step</h2><p id="015f">While it showed what strategies people were willing to use, the analysis didn’t measure how effective it could be. The researchers therefore validated their findings against another group of people and gave them the same 81 strategies, but asked them to imagine they were in a relationship and rate the effectiveness of each one. To their surprise, virtually the same list emerged, suggesting that most people agree on the best strategies.</p><p id="b664">This sample is relatively small to truly understand different relationship dynamics and therefore may not be fully representative. However, all three reviews agree that a simple honest conversation is an essential tool for healthy relationships.</p><p id="b73d"><b><i>See too:</i></b></p></article></body>

87% Chance of Your Relationship Improves After This

Research reveals tactics to improve your relationship

Photo by We-Vibe Toys on Unsplash

Maintaining a relationship can be challenging. However, despite the difficulties, many couples are motivated to maintain and improve their intimate relationships. Seeking to understand how this dynamic works, researchers developed two studies to identify the strategies most used by people.

The study published in the journal Evolutionary Psychology reports that people form close relationships to have individuals around them who can provide reliable, long-term support to them and their current or future children. Tension in a relationship arises when partners behave in a way that indicates a lack of commitment, when, for example, they neglect their partners, do not devote time to them, flirt with other people, and so on.

In the analysis, experts used questionnaires to list the methods most applied in relationships. “Trying to understand partners’ needs, discussing problems with them, and showing more interest were among the most likely strategies to be used,” the authors explain in the research.

Improving the relationship

The first study interviewed 219 Greek participants, 121 of whom were women, using an open-ended questionnaire to identify different strategies each person would use to improve their relationship. Of the volunteers, 38% were actually in a relationship. The results from this first moment showed 81 tactics used.

Then, the experts decided to find the best strategies from these 81 identified. To do this, they increased the sample size to 511 people (309 women), who were on average around 35 years old, of whom 36% were in a relationship. Participants received the new list with 81 strategies and answered “to what extent” they would use each strategy to improve the relationship.

When listing the answers, the top five most used strategies were: “Try to understand the other partner’s needs and desires”, “Discuss problems together and be more open to expressing your concerns”; “Show more interest in the other partner and spend more time together”; “Have more experiences together, including date nights and travel ” and finally, “Build trust and be more honest and respectful.”

“We found that trying to understand partners’ needs, discussing problems with them, and showing love were rated as the most effective strategies. Men and women, and people of different ages, generally agreed on which strategies they were willing to use and how effective those strategies would be in improving their relationships with their partners,” the researchers report.

The strategy about improving your physical appearance or even individual issues came in last place, indicating that many are more concerned about the dynamics of the relationship than, in fact, being a more attractive partner.

Talking is the first step

While it showed what strategies people were willing to use, the analysis didn’t measure how effective it could be. The researchers therefore validated their findings against another group of people and gave them the same 81 strategies, but asked them to imagine they were in a relationship and rate the effectiveness of each one. To their surprise, virtually the same list emerged, suggesting that most people agree on the best strategies.

This sample is relatively small to truly understand different relationship dynamics and therefore may not be fully representative. However, all three reviews agree that a simple honest conversation is an essential tool for healthy relationships.

See too:

Relationships
Sex
Sexuality
Psychology
Love
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