7-year itch now becomes 3-year glitch: study

BEIJING. March 10. KAZINFORM A new survey in Britain finds things typically go sour in a relationship around a three-year mark, much sooner than the well-known "7-year itch." Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

Researchers studied 2,000 adults in steady relationships and found that the 36-month mark as the time when relationship stress levels peak.

Couples start to take each other for granted, and things that were once endearing become irritating, the study says.

Weight gain, stinginess, toe-nail clippings on the bathroom floor and snoring are a few of the passion-killers that have led to a swifter decline in relationships in the fast-paced 21st century.

Around the three-year point, many couples resort to a new trend of "pink passes" and "solo" holidays away from partners in order to keep romance alive, according to the study.

It also reveals couples at that three-year mark fight an average of 2.7 hours a week.

The study was commissioned by Warner Brothers to promote the release of comedy film "Hall Pass" in UK cinemas. Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.xinhuanet.com