When fondness makes the heart go absent (Apologies to the Whitlam's)

I was thinking about long distance relationships the other day and how I believe they are prone to failure. I was wondering if there were any independent stats about success/satisfaction rates in Long Distance relations (both married pairs and non-married)

So I did my usual trick and went to the web. It appears there are not a lot of statistics out there. It seems to be a case where everybody has an opinion on Long Distance relationships, but no one can actually back up an opinion with some hard data. Sociology/Psychology students of the world, get cracking! I think there is a PhD out there waiting for you.

One site, which claims to have some information, is the unimaginatively titled "Center for the Study of Long Distance Relationships". Here is the link to the website -------------------------------------------------------->http://www.longdistancerelationships.net

While it provides an interesting read, I am worried about the true scientific nature of this institute. It is a division of JF Milne Publications, which as a remarkable coincidence also publishes the "Long Distance Relationships: The complete guide" The website is run by the author of the book. I’m not interested in opinion’s ons here at scottythegoat (only I’m allowed to do that!), but actual facts and figures.

However, a link from this site did provide some up to date research on Long Distance Relationships (or LDR’s as they are called). -----------------------------------------------------------> http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations/fullcit/3124212

In this paper, Amber Roberts studied 274 college students in 2003, some of whom were in LDRS (Long Distance Relationships) and other’s in PR’s (geographical close relationships). The study showed that there was no discernible difference in relationship satisfaction between those students in LDR and those in PR’s. Rather it was the management of the distance in a relationship rather than actual distance that decided whether partners were happy. It also showed that those who were committed to being in the relationships would be able to make it work.

So there you go. Maybe Long Distance relationships in themselves are not the problem. It’s the type of people getting into them! Almost like a Long Distance Relationship is a catalyst that exposes the strengths/weaknesses of the partners involved and can either make the relationship soar or deliver the coup de grace to the wounded beast. Of course, it could just mean that college students have no idea what a relationship is about!

As for the goat, I believe that physical and emotional closeness are two very important things in a relationship. How can you have that when your partner are hundreds of kilometre’s away? I also think the fact that both parties don’t see each other often can cause partners to romantisize the relationship, to make it something that it never was, thus prolonging an already unsatisfying union.

To me, if you are not experiencing life together with the love of your life, then what is the point? When you find that special someone, it should be, to quote the immortal words of Buzz Lightyear, "To infinity and beyond!"