Would a Couple Benefit from More Space in a Relationship?

Relationships can’t exist without personal space. This was highlighted in a poll, which was carried out by Meetville.com (dating app to find the right person) between 10/29/14 and 2/2/15. In the poll people were asked: “Should there be personal privacy in relationships?”

Number of respondents 80,160. From the USA – 88%, from Canada – 2%, from Britain – 4%, Australia – 2% and other countries – 4%.

Any individual needs personal privacy to be able to create a healthy relationship. Suzanne B. Phillips, Psy.D., a licensed psychologist, says: “As adults we continue to need different degrees of privacy to re-charge, regulate stress and nurture a sense of self–be it a solitary hobby or reading the paper alone. We also need intimacy. We need to be and share with another, to be known by them in a way that no one else knows us.”

A relationship should be based on trust and respect of each other’s personal space. Suzanne B. Phillips adds: “While one partner may be more disclosing than the other, we can’t expect to hear or share every thought, action, urge or memory of our partner. In a trusting relationship, we have neither the need to check each other’s phone, emails, mail or daily moves, nor the obligation to disclose all. If we enjoy such sharing, it is mutual sharing that fuels our connection.”

Alex Cusper, Meetville service analyst, states: “In a relationship respect for privacy is fundamental. Both partners have the right and the need for their personal thoughts, ideas and dreams. Healthy relationships are about love, communication, trust and respect of personal privacy. All these elements can help a relationship work and succeed.”

Meetville, a leading mobile dating service, regularly conducts research among its users. Millions of people from the U.S., Canada, Britain and Australia answer hundreds of questions every month. You can find the results of the poll here. If you are interested in research on a particular topic, please contact us. Any reprint of the material should be followed by clickable links to the survey.