If you’re seeking happiness and relationships in your life, a local study may have the answers: get married, have children, earn an adequate income and avoid too many problems at work.

Research by the National Centre for Family Research, published yesterday, shows that three quarters of Maltese people are satisfied with their lives. However, those in relationships – and particularly married couples – are especially likely to be happy.

Satisfaction tends to be higher among parents but only if their children are very young or all grown-up: raising teenagers, on the other hand, is linked to a drop in life satisfaction.

Across most age ranges and relationship situations, lack of adequate income was revealed as the major cause of dissatisfaction in life and relationships. Problems at work, conflicts with other people and physical or mental health problems were other main causes.

Relationship satisfaction does not seem to depend on gender, age or nationality

In total, a representative sample of just under 2,500 people took part in the survey, the first in Malta to look at differences in life satisfaction across different relationship and life situations. Researchers hope the study can help professionals deliver better services and target campaigns more effectively.

The majority of respondents with a partner reported they were satisfied with their relationships, which was particularly true for married people and those with an adequate income.

Interestingly, 0.7 per cent of respondents said they were currently in a same-sex relationship – a figure 10 times more prevalent than in the national census five years ago.

Relationship satisfaction does not seem to depend on gender, age or nationality of the partner, nor even the presence of children. Highest levels of satisfaction were noted with daughters under nine or sons over 20, while teenage children were again a threat to relationship satisfaction. For those who were otherwise satisfied with their relationship, the biggest problems reported were lack of time to spend with their partner, lack of communication and income problems.

For those with more troubled relationships, on the other hand, fidelity and violence were both major concerns, affecting one in three and nearly one in 10 these people respectively.

Very few of those who reported a lack of satisfaction with their relationship said they had sought help but those that did were more likely to go to a member of the clergy than to a counsellor or other professional.

For single people, meanwhile, the news was also good. Nearly half of those not in a relationship reported being “very happy” with a single life. Single women were particularly satisfied, as were those in the 26-30 or 76-80 age ranges.

Why are single people not in a relationship?

• Not interested (67.9 per cent)

• Haven’t met the right person (14.7 per cent)

• Too afraid of relationships (2.9 per cent)

• Don’t have opportunities to meet a partner (2.7 per cent)

• Haven’t met the right person for my children (2.7 per cent)

What do people value most in a relationship?

• Respect (24.5 per cent)

• Communication (17.8 per cent)

• Trust (16.3 per cent)

• Love (15.2 per cent)

• Understanding (6.6 per cent)

• Among older respondents in particular, forgiveness ­and understanding were the most important aspects of a relationship.

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