Section 2: what Britons think of their current relationship

How happy are Britons in their relationship?

Six in ten Britons (61%) say they are “very happy” in their relationship currently, with a further 29% describing themselves as “fairly happy”.

Another 5% say they are “neither happy nor unhappy”, while just 3% say they are unhappy in their relationship.

Women are more likely to say they are unhappy, or neither happy nor unhappy, in their relationship, with 11% saying so, compared to 6% of men.

What aspects of their relationship are Britons happy and unhappy with?

While the vast majority of Britons are happy in their relationship, that is not to say they are happy with every aspect. One in five (20%) say they are unhappy with the amount of sex they are having, while 15% say the same of the level of physical affection they receive.

A further 14% say they are unhappy with how much quality time they get to spend with their partner, and the same number say so of how well their partner communicates with them.

Nevertheless, across 12 of the 13 relationship elements we asked about, the majority of people are satisfied.

People are most likely to be happy that they can trust and depend on their partner (91%), including 67% who are “very happy” with this aspect of their relationship. Also close to the top of the table are satisfaction with “the extent to which you can be your true self around your partner” (88%), their level of independence in the relationship (88%), and how often they have fun and laugh together (83%).

The data can also provide insights into what seems to be responsible for people saying they are less than “very happy” in their relationship in general.

Among those who said they are either unhappy in their relationship, or neither happy nor unhappy, a clear trend emerges that the emotional aspects of their relationships are being neglected. This group are most likely to say they are unhappy with how well their partner communicates (64%), how often they feel appreciated (63%), the amount of physical affection they receive (56%) and the extent to which they feel emotionally supported (52%).

By contrast, relatively few in this group are unhappy with the extent to which they can be their true selves around their partner (28%), their level of independence (26%) or how much they can trust and depend on their partner (20%).

Among those who describe themselves as being “fairly happy” in their relationship overall, the order shifts. Intimacy is clearly a sticking point for this group, with 35% saying they are unhappy with how often they have sex with their partner – by some margin the highest complaint.

Likewise, 25% complain of a lack of physical affection, followed by communication (22%), quality time (20%) and how often arguments occur (19%).

Among those who are “very happy” in their relationship overall, no more than 10% complain of being unhappy with any of the attributes we asked about (with sex again being the top reason).

A few differences emerge between the generations. The most notable is the distinction in the numbers who are happy with their sex life, falling from 69% of the under-30s to 39% of the over-60s. (This trend holds true even after accounting for the greater likelihood of older people to answer “prefer not to say” for this question).

Younger people are also more likely to be happy with how often their partner is physically affectionate towards them (87%) than those in the older age groups (60-64% for those in their 40s, 50s and over-60s).

When it comes to men and women, women are less likely to be “very happy” with how fairly responsibilities are shared (34% vs 46%), and the extent to which they feel emotionally supported (45% vs 55%).

Do opposites attract? How many Britons feel similar to their partner?

While the old adage suggests that opposites attract, only 8% of Britons say they are “very different” to their current partner. While a further 32% say they are fairly different, they are outweighed by the 59% of Britons who consider themselves to be similar to their partner, including 14% who feel they are “very similar”.

How many Britons say their partner is their soulmate?

The public are divided on the concept of soulmates. Four in ten (40%) say they believe everyone has ‘the one’ or a ‘soulmate’, but an identical 40% disagree.

People who are in relationships currently are more likely to think soulmates are a thing (44%) than those who are single (31%).

Among those Britons who are in a relationship and believe in the concept of soulmates, 86% say their current partner is their soulmate – only 8% do not, with 4% unsure so far.

It’s a similar story among those people in relationships who are less whimsical: 83% who don’t believe in soulmates nevertheless feel their current partner is someone they want to spend the rest of their life with. Only 4% don’t see their current partner as someone they want to stick with, while 10% aren’t sure yet.

Who would Britons turn to for relationship advice?

In the event that they needed relationship advice, Britons are far more likely to reach out to their friends than any other type of person, at 45%.

One in eight (13%) would reach out to a parent, and 11% to their siblings, with 4% saying so of other members of their family. Collectively, 22% would reach out to someone in their family.

A further one in nine (11%) would seek professional help from a therapist, while 5% would consult artificial intelligence, and 4% would hit the online forums or social media.

However, one in three Britons (34%) say they wouldn’t ask anyone for relationship advice. This is particularly the case among the oldest Britons (50% of the over-60s), with men slightly more likely to say so than women (38% vs 30%).

Aside from the above, the only other way in which men are distinct from women is that they are less willing to reach out to friends for relationship advice, at 39% vs 51%.

See full results here

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Photo: Getty