Scientists reckon the secret to a happy marriage is easy -- the woman should be smarter than the man and at least five years younger.
They developed a distinctly unromantic formula to predict how compatible a couple are, based on their ages, education and relationship history.
Academics studied interviews of more than 1500 couples who were married or in a serious relationship. Five years later they followed up 1000 of the couples.
From this they were able to work out the factors that create a marriage made in heaven, and those that doom a relationship to failure.
They found if the wife is five or more years older than her husband, the couple are more than three times as likely to divorce than if they were the same age.
Where the husband is the elder by at least five years, the couples are less likely to part, according to the academics, including Dr. Emmanuel Fragniere of the University of Bath.
The finding predicts a healthy future for pop star Beyonce Knowles, 28, and rapper husband Jay-Z, 39.
Jay-Z is older, but Beyonce has the better education, as her hubby failed to gain a diploma at high school.
The research might be less popular with actor Michael Douglas, 65, and his 40-year-old wife, Catherine Zeta Jones.
While they satisfy the age gap, they fail on another factor. The study found that a relationship is more likely to fail if one partner has a history of divorce -- and this is Douglas' second marriage.
Here are some other theories which claim to form the basis of a happy marriage ...
1. Couples should enjoy at least three cuddles a day. If you make the effort to hug, you'll reap the bonding benefits. Even a quick cuddle shows you care.
2. Whether a wee peck on the cheek or a full-on smooch, kisses arevery important. To ensure a lasting marriage, the couple should enjoy at least four kisses a day.
3. Everyone needs to hear those little three words every once in a while. Saying "I love you" at least once a day ensures a durable match.
4. Couples should share two hobbies which they can enjoy on a regular basis. Whether mountain biking or going to the cinema, they should be equally passionate about the hobby. Even if it means just fantasizing about getting out to do those things together, being enthusiastic about something intensifies the bond.
5. Going out for two romantic meals a month will ensure a lasting liaison. The process of getting dressed up, picking out food and wine for one another and enjoying each other's company in a relaxed environment, allows you to focus on being happy. Just make sure the babysitter is free to look after the kids.
6. "Till death do us part" couples will often have met through friends and tied the knot after three and a half years. Having mutual friends increases the likelihood of having similar interests and staying with the same circle of people.
7. Happy husbands and wives keep in regular touch -- even when they are at work -- making at least three phone calls, text messages or emails a day. Maintaining contact shows you are thinking about the other person, regardless of how busy you are. Couples should enjoy time out from each other, to pursue their own interests and bring something fresh back to the relationship. They should do this by enjoying at least two separate nights a month with friends.
8. It's important to keep an air of suspense about a relationship. The husband or wife should organize at least one surprise weekend away each year.
9. At least three nights a week should be spent snuggled up together watching TV or a film. This gives the couple a chance to get physically close and share.
10. Vacations are great for taking time out to relax, without the distraction of work and the daily routine. Try to get away for at least one vacation a year. Whether you're together in a cozy caravan or a plush hotel abroad, the experience is guaranteed to bring you closer.
11. Couples who look like each other are likely to stick together, according to a study by Professor David Perrett of the University of St. Andrews. He reckons we're attracted to someone similar because they remind us of the faces we saw most in childhood -- our parents.
12. It's important to make eye contact to attract a potential mate. Clear eyes show you're healthy and more likely to be fertile, say scientists.
13. They also believe we use smells to find a mate who has the right DNA combination to produce healthy kids. Studies reveal women give off a tell-tale body odor when they're at their most fertile, which is attractive to men. For women,the sweaty smell of a man boosts the blood flow to the part of the brain controlling sex.
Source: YellowBrix, Daily Record; Glasgow (UK)
Catatan
