The so-called 3-year glitch--the point at which the passion dies for couples in committed relationships--has replaced the 7-year itch in the fast-paced 21st century, according to a new survey by UK researchers.
Researchers polled 2,000 British adults in steady relationships to determine when things typically go sour in modern relationships. They found that relationship stress levels peaked around the 36-month mark, causing couples to take each other for granted and irritate each other.
"Longer working hours combined with money worries are clearly taking their toll on modern relationships and we are seeing an increasing trend for solo holidays and weekends away from marriages and relationships in order to revive the romantic spark," said lead surveyor Judi James.
The survey compared couples in relationships shorter than three years to people who were married or in long-term, committed partnerships. 67 percent of couples said that behaviors perceived as endearing when their romance was new became irritating after about three years.
People in long-term relationships also enjoyed less sexual activity than those in short-term romances: 52 percent of the people in younger relationships said they had sexual relations at least three times a week. By contrast, only 16 percent in older relationships said the same.
The top passion-killers included: weight gain or lack of exercise, money and spend thriftiness, anti-social working hours, hygiene issues, in-laws/extended family, lack of romance, alcohol, snoring, lapsed fashion, and bathroom habits.
The survey was commissioned by Warner Brothers to promote the upcoming release of the comedy film "Hall Pass."
