Tag Archives: satisfaction

Online Couples May Experience Lower Relationship Satisfaction

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The way couples first connect can influence their relationship quality

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A global study involving 50 countries reveals that individuals who meet their partners online report lower relationship satisfaction and less emotional connection compared to those who meet in person initially.

The rise of the internet has transformed relationship dynamics. For instance, while in the mid-20th century, heterosexual couples typically met through mutual friends, by the early 21st century, this trend shifted to online interactions as primary.

To explore how these changes impact relationship quality, Malta Kowal from the University of Wroclaw, Poland, and her team studied 6,646 individuals in heterosexual relationships across all continents except Antarctica.

Participants were asked whether they started their relationship online and to rate their satisfaction levels. Additionally, they were assessed on emotional intimacy (how well they feel understood by their partner), passion, and commitment (including whether they view their relationship as long-term).

Those who met their partners online scored an average of 4.20 out of 5 on the relationship satisfaction scale, whereas those who met offline scored 4.28—indicating a small but statistically significant difference. Online couples reported lower scores in intimacy, passion, and commitment.

According to Kowal, several factors might contribute to this disparity. Research suggests that partners who meet online often have less in common in terms of educational background and ethnicity compared to those who meet in person. Kowal and her collaborators propose that this might lead to differences in their everyday lives and shared values.

Kowal also points out the issue of “Choice Overload.” With dating platforms presenting numerous options, individuals may second-guess their choices, which can ultimately diminish satisfaction.

Moreover, she notes that some people tend to misrepresent themselves in online dating profiles. “You might see someone and think, ‘No way is he two meters tall; he’s more like 170 centimeters,'” Kowal explains. This kind of disparity can negatively impact relationship satisfaction.

Luke Brunning from the University of Leeds in the UK finds this research “fascinating” and “valuable” for future studies, particularly in considering how online dating may redefine relationship approaches or if shifting attitudes toward commitment drive these changes.

He further suggests that the overall difference between couples who meet online and offline is “relatively small.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Continuing to Work Beyond Retirement Age Can Enhance Your Life Satisfaction

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Working later in life may not be a bad thing

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While many anticipate retirement, staying active in the workforce during later years can enhance your happiness—particularly for men.

Increasing numbers of people are extending their careers. According to a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), 28.9% of individuals aged 65 to 69 across 38 member countries were still employed in 2023, up from 15.9% in 2000. However, the overall effects on well-being remain largely unexplored.

To delve into this topic, Alisa Lewin from Haifa University and Haya Stear from Tel Aviv University analyzed social survey data from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics. They compared the experiences of over 3,300 women and more than 2,000 men who reached 62 and 67 years of age, respectively.

The researchers found that individuals with lower household incomes were more inclined to work full-time. Notably, the men reported financial, family, emotional, and overall life satisfaction levels that were equal to or exceeded those who were not employed.

This trend held true regardless of the nature of their full-time employment. Meanwhile, women showed an increase in family and economic satisfaction.

Researchers suggest this phenomenon may stem from the idea that women could derive a sense of purpose and fulfillment from various life aspects. “Women may find emotional support and social engagement from other sources rather than relying solely on their jobs,” Lewin explains.

“Men, even today, still recognize their responsibilities in providing for their families and achieving workplace success,” notes Carrie Cooper from the University of Manchester, UK.

Results concerning the happiness of participants working part-time were more variable. Outcomes differed based on job type, satisfaction metrics, and participant gender.

Those who began with higher happiness levels tended to work full-time later in life, which could have influenced the findings. Cooper cautions that the results may not be applicable to other cultures or countries.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

British seniors feel greater satisfaction post-Covid-19 pandemic

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The pandemic may have changed people’s outlook for life

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The Covid-19 pandemic has increased a stronger sense of purpose and life satisfaction as it deepened the appreciation of older adults in the UK for the simple things in life.

The happiness of some people Life satisfaction immersed in the early days of the pandemic however, after most restrictions have been lifted, what happened later is not much understood. “Unfortunately, most of the research conducted did not continue. [in the later years of] “Because it's a pandemic, there was a big gap in research.” Paola Zaninot University College London.

To address this, Zaninotto and her colleagues analyzed data from a survey on the well-being and depressive symptoms of approximately 4,000 people, primarily white.

Each participant completed the survey over two years from the second pandemic in the first year of the 2020 pandemic and the last participant between the end of 2021 and the last between 2023. The final survey of 2022 was after most infection control measures were concluded in the UK.

The team found that prior to the pandemic, participants rated their sense of purpose in life with an average score of 7.5 out of 10. This fell to 7.2 in 2020, rising from 7.6 in the final survey to 7.6 above pre-pandemic levels. .

Similarly, participants reported an average life satisfaction score of 7.3 prior to the pandemic, which fell to 6.9 early in the pandemic, but rose to 7.5 in the final survey.

These are small changes in happiness at the population level, but some individuals say they are experiencing major changes that affect their work and relationships. Rebecca Pierson At the University of Bristol, UK.

Zaninot may have reminded people of the importance of the global outbreak in life. “The pandemic has brought some challenges, but it has also brought a broad appreciation to our lives, perhaps about social connections and other meaningful activities,” she says.

The team also found that the average rate of depression (defined as having at least four depressive symptoms, such as feeling lonely) was more than doubled from the first to the second period. The final survey saw prices drop but exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

“People might feel like we've overcome it, I'm back to work, I've been able to see my family again.” You may be low at times and you may not be able to enjoy the same joy,” Pearson says. Furthermore, research needs to explore what drives these rates of depression increase, she says.

Additionally, additional studies say we need to investigate how results are converted to people elsewhere, Kelsey O'Connor At the National Institute of Statistics in Luxembourg. “The pandemic policy and the severity of the pandemic have been dramatically different in other countries,” he says. “You can't really generalize to young people, ethnic minorities, or marginalized groups.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com