Can Long-Distance Love Last?
Long-distance love sounds romantic, but can it last? Let’s say you meet someone, you really like each other and you have tons in common. the only trouble is - you live on opposite sides of the country. Is the relationship doomed? Not necessarily, according to Mary Carole Pistole, a professor from Purdue University. She’s been comparing the levels of satisfaction of long-distance couples to others who live close to each other. And what she’s discovered might surprise you! Turns out that long-distance relationships might actually be more stable and last longer.
So, why is it that couples that have to hop on a plane or drive for hours to see each other are happier than those within easy reach? Pistole says that long-distance partners spend more high-quality time together - which creates a closeness not found with people who see each other every day. They have better communication, fewer trivial arguments, and they put a high value on their relationship time. Also, since they don’t see each other as often, they tend to rely on the phone and e-mail to stay in touch.
Couples who live close don’t do this as often. So if you live far away from your sweetie, cheer up! Your relationship might be better off for it. And if you live next door to yours, remember that relationships take work, no matter how easy it is for you to get together. So don’t ever take your proximity for granted.
