Study reveals large number of Americans remain "very in love" with their spouses

Despite the high divorce rate, one study brings positive news to married couples who may feel like the odds are
against them.

In a recent study by professors at Stony Brook University and Harvey Mudd College, 274 individuals married for
over 10 years were randomly surveyed about their emotions towards their spouse. The researchers found that
47.8 percent of the sample were "very intensely in love" with their spouses. A little over 13 percent said they were "intenesely in love" and 26.2 percent of the sample said they were "very in love." This leaves only about 13 percent of the sample that did not report a strong love for their spouses.

The study also found that the feelings of intense love declined for couples married between 10 and 20 years, but
increased for those together 20 years or more.

The researchers also conducted a second survey of 396 married residents of New York state. These findings were
significantly different. It was found that only 33.3 percent of respondents said they were "intensely in love."
Additionally, the findings of the second study found that only 19 percent of women and 29 percent of men married 30 years or more reported that they were "intensely in love." The researchers suspect the low percentages of intense love reported in New York may reflect previous studies which suggest that the general happiness is lower in the Northeast than in other areas of the country.