A recent study from America has found that children who come from a happy and supportive family are more likely to have successful marriages themselves when they grow up.
The research, from the University of Texas at Dallas, tracked a number of participants from when they were youths through to becoming adults.
“The results suggest that growing up in a family that resolves conflict through clear, warm and assertive communication may have benefits for adolescents' outcomes in later marital relationships,” said lead author, Dr. Robert Ackerman.
Ackerman claimed that the study of positive behaviours was important as it might increase understanding of how to improve romantic relationships.
The study found that participants who had a positive family background expressed less hostility to their spouses, and their spouses in turn were also less hostile.
“I think that one of the more impressive features of this research is that it shows that even after accounting for the continuity of individual differences, the overall nature of the family climate still matters for later marital outcomes,” he concluded.
