Couples Who Are Best Friends Have Happier Marriages, a Study Suggests

Being married to your best friend sounds like a match made in heaven. You know each other really well, your relationship is mature enough for you to openly talk about your deepest feelings, and there are no trust issues or insecurities. And on top of it all, many studies confirm the fact that a marriage between best friends often springs bountiful benefits.

We at Bright Side were thrilled to find out about this fact, and we decided to learn why friendship makes a marriage happier. We also prepared a bonus for you at the end of the article.

People who consider their spouses best friends are more satisfied with their lives than those who don’t.

Marriage itself brings many physical and mental health benefits. But, a study has shown that married people who have a close friendship with their partner get as twice as many of these well-being gains from their marriage than those who don’t.

Another study revealed that married couples with friendship-based love felt closer to their partners, had more relationship satisfaction, experienced greater perceived importance of the relationship, and had greater respect for each other.

Their marriage lasts longer.

Researchers asked couples who’ve been happily married for over 15 years what the number one reason for the success and longevity of their relationship was. And the most common answer among the participants was that their partner was also their best friend.

The second most common response was that they liked their spouse as a person, which is another key aspect of friendship-based love.

They are happier throughout their life.

All friends are important for happiness. But establishing a deep and sustaining friendship with your partner not only allows you to derive the greatest joy and happiness, but it also promotes emotional, physical, and psychological health and longevity.

Best friend spouses are better partners for each other.

Research has shown that relationships with companionate love based on friendship, comfort, feelings of affection, and shared interests are more satisfying for the partners than those based on passionate love. For example, one of the funniest and strongest Hollywood couples, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, have been friends for 11 years, 9 of which were spent married.

Bonus: Women benefit more from being married to their best friend.

The results of one study showed that the well-being benefits and relationship satisfaction of being married to one’s best friend were much higher for women than for men. But also, the same study showed that, on average, fewer women compared to men considered their spouse a best friend.

Is your partner also your best friend? Do you believe that friendship makes the marriage happier?

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