Research says you can save your relationship with these two little words...

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According to the latest scientific research, the secret to a happy marriage is as simple as these two words. You probably use these two words every single day, but it's rare that anyone really stops to appreciate their depth.
According to a study published in the journal Personal Relationships , the words "thank you" can have a direct influence on marriage and levels of commitment. Showing gratitude to your partner shows that you value them and it was found to protect couples from the damage done by arguing .
"We found that feeling appreciated and believing that your spouse values you directly influences how you feel about your marriage, how committed you are to it, and your belief that it will last," said Ted Futris, an associate professor at Georgia University who co-authored the study.
The university arrived at its conclusions after surveying 468 married individuals about their financial wellbeing, communication and gratitude for their partner.
"It goes to show the power of 'thank you,'" said the study's lead author, professor Allen Barton.
"Even if a couple is experiencing distress and difficulty in other areas, gratitude in the relationship can help promote positive marital outcomes."
"This is the first study to document the protective effect that feeling appreciated by your spouse can have for marriages.
"We think it is quite important as it highlights a practical way couples can help strengthen their marriage, particularly if they are not the most adept communicators in conflict."
Gratitude was measured in terms of the degree to which individuals felt appreciated by their spouse , valued by their spouse and acknowledged when they did something nice for their spouse.
"All couples have disagreements and argue," Futris said.
"And, when couples are stressed, they are likely to have more arguments. What distinguishes the marriages that last from those that don't is not how often they argue, but how they argue and how they treat each other on a daily basis."

Source: Mirror