Do Relationships Last Longer If You Are Friends First?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Do relationships last longer if you are friends first? But new research suggests

roughly two-thirds of couples start out as friends and maintain a platonic relationship for long periods before sparking a romance.

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Are relationships better when you're friends first?

Being friends before dating is never a bad idea as it means that there is nothing superficial about the relationship. In fact,

the chances of having a successful relationship also go up if you are a friend first

.

Do friendships make the best relationships?

“If you're edging into a more intimate relationship, you've probably decided over time they're trustworthy, dependable and of good character,” Wilson says. “

Friendships give the advantage of time and space to grow and flourish together before you take the risk of vulnerability and handing over your heart.

What lasts longer friendship or relationship?

Why is it good to be friends first before dating?

By being friends first,

you will probably already know about each other's past relationships, childhood memories, likes and dislikes

. This gives you an advantage of knowing what and what not to do while in a relationship with them. You already know what makes them frustrated and happy.

Can you go from friends to a relationship?


It's not impossible to transition from just friends to dating

; however, Sterling recommends you do your due diligence before professing any feelings and risking the special you already have. “It's important to realize that the minute you put your feelings out there, you cross the Rubicon,” she says.

How long does the average dating relationship last?

Average Relationship Length: Fascinating Facts

The average relationship lasts for

2 years and 9 months

before coming to an end. Social media plays an important role in the demise of relationships. The younger the couple, the shorter the relationship – teenagers don't tend to form lasting relationships.

How do most relationships end?

The main reasons why relationships fail are

loss of trust, poor communication, lack of respect, a difference in priorities, and little intimacy

.

How do most long term relationships start?

Two-thirds of romantic relationships begin as

long-term friendships

, according to a new study. People said they prefer to fall in love with friends over meeting through mutual friends or meeting at a bar.

How do most relationships begin?

Most participants (68%) reported that their current or most recent romantic relationship began

as a friendship

, regardless of gender, age, education levels or ethnic groups.

Can a friendship lead to marriage?

In fact, a 1994 study in “Personal Relationships” tested a measure called the Friendship-Based Love Scale that measured friendship in romantic relationships. The study's authors found that

partners who scored high on this measure were more likely to have stable marriages

.

Why are romantic relationships harder than friendships?

#1 Intimacy is Difficult

“Romantic relationships can be difficult to maintain because

they possess more intimacy than any other relationship

,” says life coach Kali Rogers. “The amount of closeness — emotional, physical, spiritual, and even mental — that is in a relationship is overwhelming to handle at times.”

Who is more important best friend or boyfriend?

Believe it:

a true friend is way more valuable than a boyfriend

. The same is true when you're 20 as when you're 80. So while some of you may be scrambling to meet a guy or working overtime to make a relationship happen, just remember that your best friend is for life.

How do you know if your friendship is turning into love?

  1. The communication frequency between you two suddenly increase. …
  2. You suddenly experience jealousy. …
  3. The body language between you two evolves. …
  4. You're both single. …
  5. You two start flirting with each other. …
  6. Your friend's behavior turns hot and cold towards you.

Can a man fall in love with a friend?

Though not all friends have a special love for each other,

it is possible to fall in love with your friend

. It happens a lot of times, and many claim that the transition from friendship to love is quite smooth. So yes, that great friendship with your best guy friend can turn into a romantic relationship.

Are we dating or just friends?

Do You Have Conversations About Things Other Than Bodies & Sex?

If you've discussed things other than what you're doing in the bedroom, then that's a good sign

. Even if you're just going on a handful of dates within a few weeks and then it ends, the dating part is in the conversation and getting to know each other.

How often do friendships turn into relationships?

This limited focus might be justified if friends first initiation was rare or undesirable, but our research reveals the opposite. To be exact, the researchers estimated that

68 percent

of romantic relationships start from friendship.

Which month has most breakups?

Scientists have shown that

December

is the most popular month for break-ups. Hold on to your hats, and your partners, because statistically the 11th of December is the most common day for couples to break up.

What time period is the hardest in a relationship?

What month do most relationships start?

According to a new Elite Daily study of 119 participants ages 18 to 38, the best month to start a relationship is

October

. Cuffing season is a relationship phenomenon in which people seek out dates, relationships, and sex to make it through the fall and winter months.

Why do most relationships end at 2 years?

For some it may be one year, but 2 years is typical. So relationships often don't last past that, either

because there is no real foundation for a relationship other than attraction OR because one of the two are not aware of what a relationship takes

. A lot of people are in love with the feeling of being infatuated.

How many months do most relationships last?

  • It Might Be Just LUST. …
  • Not Knowing Your Dating “Non-Negotiables” …
  • Daters Are Just Less Patient Today. …
  • Too Many Dating Options.

Who usually ends the relationship?

What are the 5 stages of relationships?

  • The Romance Stage.
  • The Power Struggle Stage.
  • The Stability Stage.
  • The Commitment Stage.
  • The Co-Creation or Bliss Stage.

Why do most relationships end after 6 months?

“Some research suggests that

the chemical shifts associated with new love (aka limerence) level off around the six-month mark

; of course, every person and relationship is unique, so some people find that this levelling-off occurs sooner and for others, it takes longer to arrive,” she says.

What's the secret to a long lasting relationship?

Great romantic relationships are built upon

strong connections

. Beneath everything else, there ought to be a strong bond involving intimacy, friendship, common interests, goals, etc. This connection should give your relationship energy and make you want to spend time together.

Can friends be soulmates?


Yes, soul mates can be platonic

. A platonic soul mate relationship is a friendship that goes virtually as deep as any friendship can.

Can friends kiss and still be friends?

Sometimes kisses might happen because we are emotional for some reason and just act on our feelings without thinking. Regardless of the reason, many people want to just remain friends after a kiss. Luckily,

with clear communication and some effort, you and your friend will remain friends after your kiss

.

Can platonic relationships turn romantic?

What are 5 characteristics of an unhealthy relationship?

Are relationships supposed to be hard in the beginning?


The first year of the relationship is the hardest stage

, and even when you're living together, you still discover new things about each other every day. How to Survive: The key to getting past the discovery stage is also discovery. The discovery of your partner's imperfections and your imperfections as well.

Should your friends come before your partner?

Why friends are more important than girlfriends?


They make every occasion, every single event in your life unforgettable, and always in a superb way

. While you'd think twice before going somewhere with your girlfriend, your best friends are never a misfit, no matter what the situation is!

Is it a friendship or relationship?


One of the main difference between friendship and relationship is the form in which they are founded

. The relationship is based on two types, which include the natural form and the deliberate form. There are those people who are related to natural forms like family members.

Why does my relationship feel like a friendship?


A complete lack of attraction for each other

Attraction and intimacy are the two primary ingredients in any romantic relationship. If intimacy and attraction are missing, the relationship will automatically feel like a platonic bond.

Can long time friends fall in love?

Falling in love with a friend does not happen for everyone, but

it definitely can happen

. It's certainly common for close friends to love one another in a platonic friendship way, but that does not mean that great friendships will always develop into romantic feelings or falling in love.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.