It’s official. New research by Zoosk.co.uk, the romantic social network, has found that we are a nation of true romantics that are crying out for more time to romance our loved ones.
Relationships on Female First
Nearly all of those people questioned think that romance in a relationship is either extremely important or would like it if their loved ones were more romantic on occasions.
Interestingly, eight out of ten people in the UK believe themselves to be romantic, yet nearly all of those asked said they wished there was more romance in their lives.
So why is there this disconnect? The survey, which questioned thousands of couples and singletons across the UK, has found out that we just don’t have time for romance in the modern day. Nearly two thirds of respondents put their lack of romance down to a busy work life, with four out of ten citing financial concerns as being a barrier for romance.
So it comes as no surprise that over half of those asked said that one of the most important things when in a relationship is making the time for one another by taking a day off work. Time, it seems, is crucial for romance to thrive.
Chivalry is not dead – but creativity needs reviving
All is not lost, however, with Zoosk’s research showing that chivalry is not dead and buried in the UK just yet! Of those who responded, three quarters said that they would still open the door for their partner, 65 per cent would send flowers unexpectedly and 58 per cent insist on paying for dinner when on a date.
So it should come as no surprise that the perfect role models for our chivalrous nation are Prince William and Kate Middleton, with over half of respondents saying they think they represent the very best of modern day romance. It seems that when Prince William bought Kate her beloved Dog Lugo for the Duchess’ 30th birthday, our nation stood up, took notice and were romantically inspired.
But romantics shouldn’t rest on their laurels. A third of respondents said that another of the barriers to modern day romance was a lack of creativity. Sometimes flowers and dinners just won’t cut it. When it comes to a romantic gesture, people need to start thinking out of the (chocolate) box.
Other findings:
• UK Politicians: When asked which UK politician our respondents would most like to be romanced by, an overwhelming majority choose a figure from the Conservatives. David Cameron proved the most popular with nearly a quarter of respondents opting for our nations’ leader, followed closely by Zac Goldsmith with 19 per cent and The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson at 18 per cent. Nick Clegg was next at 17 per cent, with Ed Miliband trailing with 12 per cent.
• Moving in together: When in a relationship, three quarters of respondents said they would move in together within two years of being in a relationship.