According to a new study, spooning with your partner really does say something about your relationship.
Researchers from the University of Hertfordshire surveyed 1,000 people and found that couples who maintained physical contact while they slept were more likely to report being happy in their relationship. An overwhelming 94% of couples who touch while sleeping said they were happy, while only 68% of couples who didn’t touch while snoozing expressed being satisfied with their relationship.
Not only that, physical distance while sleeping seemed to translate into emotional distance. Of the 12% of couples who slept with less than an inch separation from their partner, 86% of them said they were happy. For couples who slept more than 30 inches apart (a mere 2%), only 66% said they were happy.
“This is the first survey to examine couples’ sleeping positions, and the results allow people to gain an insight into someone’s personality and relationship by simply asking them about their favorite sleeping position,” said Professor Richard Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire and study lead. The research was presented at the Edinburgh International Science Festival.
The most popular sleeping position for couples was back to back, with 42% doing so. Thirty one percent slept facing the same direction, and 4% slept facing one another.
Interestingly, the more outgoing one is, the more likely that person is to sleep closer to to his or her partner. And creative types tended to sleep on their left.
So the next time you want to add some satisfaction to your relationship, consider scooting a little closer. You can always do the “Hug ‘n’ Roll” later.
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