11/25/08
The course of true love ...
TEN YEARS OF RELATIONSHIP SURVEYS REVEAL BARRIERS TO LONG-LASTING LOVE
Financial difficulties, work stress and the pressures of raising children have consistently featured as key factors leading to relationship problems in Surveys conducted by Relationships Australia over the past ten years. The 2008 Relationships Australia/CUA Relationships Indicators Survey was launched to mark Relationships Australia’s 60th Anniversary.
“Different goals and expectations”, “different perspectives or values”, and “lack of time to spend together” have also increasingly featured as important factors in recent Surveys, highlighting that finding and sustaining partnerships has become more complex these days.
A surprising finding in the 2008 Survey is that that 26% of single men, compared with only 13% of single women, say they want a long-term partner. “This finding suggests that the popular concept of a “Man Drought” may be simplistic. It might not fit the image of the independent Aussie bloke, but our research shows that relationships do matter to men”, said Anne Hollonds, Vice-president of Relationships Australia. “These findings counter traditional views of gender stereotypes about relationships, which may be based more on mythology than fact.”
“Perhaps we do have a problem of mismatched expectations, however, with 23 percent of men saying they have trouble finding anyone on the same wavelength, compared to just 16 percent of women. Women were more likely to mention a “lack of appropriate places to meet people” as a barrier to finding a partner.”
According to Anne Hollonds, “After several decades of rapid social change, we have more choices now, and modern partnerships tend to be more complex, requiring communication and negotiation of expectations. The good news is that these interpersonal skills can be learnt, and can help us to find and sustain better partnerships.”
“Significantly, the Survey also shows that 88 percent of Australians nominate “friendship” as the most important relationship in their life, suggesting a trend away from spouse or family members as the main focus of our social lives”, observed Anne Hollonds. “In addition, 40% said they had less community involvement than they would like, with “work pressures” named as the main reason.”
The research, sponsored by CUA, was officially launched today as Relationships Australia marks its 60th Anniversary as Australia’s largest, community-based, not-for-profit provider of relationship and family support services from over 120 locations across the country.
“Different goals and expectations”, “different perspectives or values”, and “lack of time to spend together” have also increasingly featured as important factors in recent Surveys, highlighting that finding and sustaining partnerships has become more complex these days.
A surprising finding in the 2008 Survey is that that 26% of single men, compared with only 13% of single women, say they want a long-term partner. “This finding suggests that the popular concept of a “Man Drought” may be simplistic. It might not fit the image of the independent Aussie bloke, but our research shows that relationships do matter to men”, said Anne Hollonds, Vice-president of Relationships Australia. “These findings counter traditional views of gender stereotypes about relationships, which may be based more on mythology than fact.”
“Perhaps we do have a problem of mismatched expectations, however, with 23 percent of men saying they have trouble finding anyone on the same wavelength, compared to just 16 percent of women. Women were more likely to mention a “lack of appropriate places to meet people” as a barrier to finding a partner.”
According to Anne Hollonds, “After several decades of rapid social change, we have more choices now, and modern partnerships tend to be more complex, requiring communication and negotiation of expectations. The good news is that these interpersonal skills can be learnt, and can help us to find and sustain better partnerships.”
“Significantly, the Survey also shows that 88 percent of Australians nominate “friendship” as the most important relationship in their life, suggesting a trend away from spouse or family members as the main focus of our social lives”, observed Anne Hollonds. “In addition, 40% said they had less community involvement than they would like, with “work pressures” named as the main reason.”
The research, sponsored by CUA, was officially launched today as Relationships Australia marks its 60th Anniversary as Australia’s largest, community-based, not-for-profit provider of relationship and family support services from over 120 locations across the country.
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