The couple continues to play a fundamental role in the affective life of Spaniards, as revealed by the latest survey on post-pandemic social and affective relationships just published by the Center for Sociological Research (CIS). Three out of four people surveyed claim to have a partner and 68% of them have been with them for more than a decade. What's more, there is 48% who have been in a relationship for more than 20 years. And, despite the time that has elapsed, two thirds of those surveyed rate their degree of satisfaction with the relationship between 7 and 10, while 3% state that they are completely dissatisfied (score 1).
However, the fact that the majority of the Spanish population has a partner does not mean that they live with them. There are more than 13% who declare that each one lives in her house, and another 5% who only live together intermittently, seasonally or on weekends. All in all, the vast majority (92%) declare themselves to be very emotionally attached to her partner because they spend a great deal of time and activities together with her.
But the fact that Spaniards continue to bet on having a stable partner does not mean that their mentality has not changed regarding what these relationships entail or the most valued aspects when starting one.
Thus, for example, the degree of involvement in domestic tasks, that sexual relations are satisfactory or the economic independence of the other are issues that are given more importance than physical appearance, ideology, religious beliefs or the desire to have children when looking for a partner. Or at least that is what those surveyed by the CIS say.
On the other hand, the Spanish are gaining confidence in finding love in the networks. Three out of ten believe that you can be in love with someone you only know on the internet.
The idea of open relationships is also permeating. Almost half agree that two or more affective-sexual relationships can be maintained at the same time and 41% support that "the members of a couple can agree to have sexual relations with other people outside the couple without there being a sentimental bond with them ".
Despite this, when describing their sentimental and sexual situation, only 5% say they have sex without commitment or a common project. Regarding their sexual orientation, 91% of those surveyed define themselves as heterosexual, 3.7% as bisexual, 1.9% declare themselves homosexual and 0.4% as asexual.
In general, Spaniards consider that sentimental relationships over the Internet are more superficial, require more communication, are less affectionate and imply less fidelity than those that are maintained face to face.
Beyond couple relationships, the CIS survey also shows the importance that Spaniards attach to the family. The vast majority are convinced that if he needed it, his relatives would "certainly" help him. And when things go wrong, they trust them more than their partner, friends or neighbors.
And regarding the impact that the internet and social networks are having on family ties, the majority of Spaniards describe a dual effect: "new technologies have brought relatives who do not live with them closer", but "the use of the internet causes a decrease in communication in the family with which one lives".
The CIS survey also reveals that Spaniards consider themselves quite happy (they score 8.06 out of 10) and satisfied with their social life: they value their family life with 8.63, their relationship with their partner with 8.55 and their friendships with an 8.28.
