You could be a senior couple whose children have left the nest, or a younger couple who happens to be childless. Either way, it’s hard sometimes to come up with meal ideas that don’t leave leftovers.
Couples without children are more balanced in diet. They ensure that they don’t eat unwanted stuff as there is no child in the family. As a matter of fact, every married couple without child knows that after the baby arrives there will be tones of food items which are primarily for the kid. But, apart from being balanced in diet most of them prefer to cook together and spend time. This way they get to unwind from their daily activities and strengthen their love bond.
For both men and women, those who did not have children ranked the quality of their relationship more highly than those who did. They also did significantly more to “maintain” their relationship, such as taking time to go out together or talk, than those with children.
Yet, when asked to rate how happy they were with their lives in general there was a gender divide. Mothers were happier overall than any other group, while childless women were the least happy. By contrast men with children emerged slightly less happy than those without.
The study, which will be presented at the British Library later this week, also reveals some unlikely bonds holding the fabric of the nation together, including that one of the secrets of Britain’s strongest marriages is the humble cup of tea.
And it uncovered a hidden passion among couples for closing the curtains, putting on some music and dancing together.
Yet, across all categories one simple action emerged as the most important element in strong relationships – saying “thank you”.
For those who have been through a painful break-up or divorce, the study offers a note of hope. It showed that those who had been in a previous long-term relationship were markedly more likely to take steps to maintain and strengthen their current relationship than those who had not.
“This is a shift away from the idea that they are just failed relationships to be put in a cupboard and forgotten about,” said Dr Jacqui Gabb, a senior lecturer in social policy at the Open University, who led the study.
“It shows they have learnt something through them, therefore it can be an enriching experience.”
Couples without children are more balanced in diet. They ensure that they don’t eat unwanted stuff as there is no child in the family. As a matter of fact, every married couple without child knows that after the baby arrives there will be tones of food items which are primarily for the kid. But, apart from being balanced in diet most of them prefer to cook together and spend time. This way they get to unwind from their daily activities and strengthen their love bond.
For both men and women, those who did not have children ranked the quality of their relationship more highly than those who did. They also did significantly more to “maintain” their relationship, such as taking time to go out together or talk, than those with children.
Yet, when asked to rate how happy they were with their lives in general there was a gender divide. Mothers were happier overall than any other group, while childless women were the least happy. By contrast men with children emerged slightly less happy than those without.
The study, which will be presented at the British Library later this week, also reveals some unlikely bonds holding the fabric of the nation together, including that one of the secrets of Britain’s strongest marriages is the humble cup of tea.
And it uncovered a hidden passion among couples for closing the curtains, putting on some music and dancing together.
Yet, across all categories one simple action emerged as the most important element in strong relationships – saying “thank you”.
For those who have been through a painful break-up or divorce, the study offers a note of hope. It showed that those who had been in a previous long-term relationship were markedly more likely to take steps to maintain and strengthen their current relationship than those who had not.
“This is a shift away from the idea that they are just failed relationships to be put in a cupboard and forgotten about,” said Dr Jacqui Gabb, a senior lecturer in social policy at the Open University, who led the study.
“It shows they have learnt something through them, therefore it can be an enriching experience.”
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