Source : Perth Now news
Public displays of affection may make some people cringe, but new research suggests they could actually be good for your relationship.
A new study suggests public displays of affection, or PDA, are actually good for relationships, with couples who regularly show affection in public reporting greater satisfaction.
Researchers from the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, examined more than 400 people across Indonesia, Nepal and Poland to investigate how public romance affects relationships.
The participants, aged between 18 and 49, were asked how often they held hands, hugged, kissed or made public declarations of love.
They were also questioned about their relationship satisfaction and attitudes towards PDA.
Overall, the researchers found a positive link between displays of affection and relationship satisfaction across all three countries.
The team wrote in their study, published in PLOS One: “Displays of romantic affection, both public and private, contribute to improved well–being, reduced stress, greater life satisfaction, and enhanced relationship satisfaction.”
They added: “However, cultural norms significantly influence the expression of affection, particularly in public settings.”
The researchers found Polish participants reported the highest levels of PDA, while Indonesians reported the lowest. Polish participants also recorded higher levels of private displays of affection.
The team said: “Negative attitudes and behaviors towards displaying affection publicly were most prevalent in Indonesia and least prevalent in Poland.”
Relationship satisfaction also varied, with Nepali participants recording the highest levels, followed by Polish participants, while Indonesian participants reported the lowest.
The researchers said: “As we hypothesised, both private and public displays of affection were positively correlated with relationship satisfaction.”
The findings may not go down well with some Brits, however, with PDA frequently attracting furious reactions online.
One TikTok user complained: “Seeing PDA will literally ruin my day.”
Londoners have also previously voiced their disgust at couples getting too amorous on the Tube.
One commuter told the Daily Mail: “It’s not the nicest, is it? You know when you’re sat next to a couple and they’re literally on top of each other. It’s a bit icky.”
Another said: “I think there’s levels to it. Just have respect generally.”
