Secrets of lasting love don't lie just in sex

Scientists have claimed that sex and having good communication can have a significant influence on relationships but factors like knowing partner's favourite pizza topping, being employed and ability to support yourself also matter.

Scientists tested 2,201 participants, head to head, in seven "relationship competencies" that previous researchers had found to vital for promoting happiness in romantic relationships.

The researchers' idea was to rank them in order of vitality to start building data on the aspects of relationships most important to keep them healthy.

The researchers, in addition to communication and conflict resolution, also looked out for love-making or romance, stress management, life skills, knowledge of partners and self-management to find the best predictors of relationship satisfaction.

Couples were queried about their competency in these areas and then asked how satisfied they were in their relationships; the researchers then correlated each partner's strengths and weaknesses in each area with the relationship satisfaction of the person.

Couple, reporting communicating effectively, showed highest satisfaction with their relationships.

Study's lead author Robert Epstein, a professor of psychology at the University of the South Pacific, in Fiji, said that learning more about partner is also important for a successful relationship, Time Magazine reported.

He added that even more important was to know critical things like whether partner wants kids.