Survey Sensationalizes Boomer Attitudes
A recent survey conducted by Harris Interactive asked 2000 married men and women ages 40 - 70 what was most important in a relationship - health, money or sex. Not surprisingly, sex won with 84%. But half of those who rated sex as the most important aspect of the relationship said they were unsatisfied with their own intimate physical and emotional relationships.
I say it is not surprising because if one stops to consider the survey question and the possible choices, it is only natural that most respondents chose sex. Why?
Because what they really wanted to choose was compatibility and friendship, communication and intimacy. But they weren’t given that choice, so they chose the one aspect of a relationship that employs those things.
It is in this way that surveys and statistics can be arranged to say pretty much anything the survey-taker wants them to. I doubt it would have mattered much if the respondents had answered money or health. Those would make sensational headlines too. “Baby Boomers More Interested in Money than Intimacy”, or how about “Baby Boomers Lose Interest When Spouses Fall Ill”?
Financial woes can put a great strain on a relationship as can ill-health. But they don’t destroy strong relationships where an intimacy of a deeper nature exists. Neither do sexual issues. Men and women both want deeper and more satisfying physical and emotional intimacy, according to the survey. The problem is that the survey lumps all intimacy under the word “sex” and concludes that sex is the most important aspect of a relationship to baby boomers.
I guess you would have to say - I disagree.
Key To Boomer Relationship? - Burlington Free Press
My parents are still in love despite financial ups and downs, and my father’s bad health. They will tell you their secret is just continuing to fall in love and date each other. Not that I entirely get it, because really…it’s my parents. I can’t entirely imaging them falling in love, but I do see it works.
By janus on August 30th, 2006 at 5:44 pm
“Sexiness wears thin after a while and beauty fades, but to be married to a man who makes you laugh every day, ah, now that’s a real treat.†- Joanne Woodward
Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman have been married for..oh..ever, I think. There’s more to this relationship stuff than the media lets on but successful couples know the secrets.
By Andrea on August 31st, 2006 at 1:19 pm