What do Americans think are the most important factors in a successful romantic relationship? A recent survey finds that out of 32 factors, the largest shares of Americans deem as very important trust (94%), honesty (92%), respect (91%), open communication (87%), and friendship (83%). Others that rank highly are appreciation, emotional connection, quality time, and conflict resolution. The factors least likely to be considered very important to a good relationship are mystery (8%), living rich separate lives (16%), having mutual friends (17%), and going to couples therapy (17%). (The survey did not ask specifically about love.)
Americans 45 and older are more likely than younger adults to say that monogamy, compromise, and shared values are very important to having a successful relationship. Adults under 45 are more likely than older Americans to prioritize for relationship success having children, sex, and couples therapy — though couples therapy still ranks near the bottom of the 32 factors for younger adults.
Men are slightly more likely than women to say that sex, romance, and physical attraction are very important to successful relationships. Women are more likely to strongly emphasize empathy, monogamy, and independence.
Related:
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- Americans’ relationship with romantic comedies: It’s complicated
- Love, sex, and heartbreak: Commonalities in American relationship experiences
- Do Americans stay friends with their exes?
- How and why do American couples argue?
- What are Americans’ love languages?
- Are single people discriminated against? Many say yes
— Carl Bialik contributed to this article
See the results for this YouGov poll
Methodology: The poll was conducted online among 2,167 U.S. adult citizens on two separate surveys from January 28 - February 3, 2025 and January 29 - February 1, 2025. A random sample (stratified by gender, age, race, education, geographic region, and voter registration) was selected from the 2019 American Community Survey. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 presidential vote, 2020 election turnout and presidential vote, baseline party identification, and current voter registration status. 2024 presidential vote, at time of weighting, was estimated to be 48% Harris and 50% Trump. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Baseline party identification is the respondent’s most recent answer given around November 8, 2024, and is weighted to the estimated distribution at that time (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). The margin of error for the overall sample is approximately 3%.
Image: Getty
