Eggheads have discovered that those who engaged in more PDAs had greater relationship satisfaction – even if they do creep us out on the streets
CRINGEY public displays of affection have been linked to healthy relationships. Boffins found loved-up couples who make romantic gestures out of the house enjoy greater happiness.
Researchers asked 461 people to rate how strongly they engaged in a list of public displays of affection (PDA).
Signs of romance included holding hands, hugging and kissing in public, and declaring their love in front of family and friends. The eggheads discovered that those who engaged in more PDAs had greater relationship satisfaction.
The study – published in the scientific journal Plos One – examined the link between PDAs and relationship satisfaction across people aged between 18 and 49 in Poland, Indonesia and Nepal.
The three countries were chosen because each have different attitudes towards the acceptability of PDAs. It led the academics to conclude it may be important for people’s relationship happiness across cultures.
Study leader Dagna Kocur, from the University of Silesia in Poland, said: “Affectionate behaviour is one of the ways people communicate closeness, love and emotional connection.
“Even small everyday gestures like holding hands, hugging or kissing can help partners feel valued, emotionally secure, and connected to each other.”
The research also found that people who were affectionate more often privately had even higher relationship satisfaction.
Previous studies found women show affection more frequently than men, and that men often prefer kissing, while women prefer hugging.
There is evidence that people deprived of affection are more at risk of health problems including depression and anxiety.
To further investigate whether affection causes happier relationships, the academics will next examine PDA in a larger group of 1,000 people across nine countries, including the UK.