Let's Talk Relationships (Page 5)

Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor: Lillian Castro

Updated:

Relationships have incredible upsides, in fact too many to list here. But they can also be a lot of work if we’re being honest. We know the dynamics of romantic partnerships can feel somewhat like a mystery, especially if it’s your first or your first serious one in a while.

So to ease things up, our experts have agreed to provide key insights into navigating the ebbs and flows of relationships, and how they can add value and joy to our lives.

Our expert-backed content provides readers with the advice to approach relationships with intention, effort, and understanding. Whether you’re in a relationship or dating to find one, our experts want to guide you to take healthy steps toward meeting your goals.

We’ll recommend the best dating apps and sites for getting serious and discuss the steps you should take to settle down and commit. Our authors also cover the five love languages, attachment styles, codependency, and more helpful tips, so you can love better and live fuller.

1118 Results

What Our Experts Say:

121.
 What Is an Affair?
Ashayla Blakely

Ashayla Blakely

The word "affair" carries a weight of intrigue in human relationships. An affair typically means a married person cheated on their partner by becoming intimate with another person. It’s a form of betrayal that often leads to heartbreak and divorce. But affairs aren't just about lust and disloyalty. Different types of affairs can stem from unresolved personal traumas, commitment issues, and other psychological...

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122.
What Is a One-Night Stand?
Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

Many flashy headlines claim that Gen Z is having less sex than previous generations and that 20-somethings are “rejecting hookup culture” en masse, but that's not true for everyone. Plenty of single people still want to have sex without making things serious. One-night stands are a staple of single life. These intimate nights offer the option to satisfy physical needs without having to deal with the messiness of a...

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123.
Dateworks Matchmakers Prioritize Self-Love in the Dating Experience
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Finding love can be tricky, which is why Malaysia’s singles turn to Dateworks Matchmaking for a helping hand. Joanne Ng founded Dateworks in 2017 to help singles learn the ins and outs of relationships. Now, the team works to connect singles for love based on compatibility and shared values. Dateworks matchmakers help their clients learn what’s holding them back in dating and overcome the hurdles...

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124.
Mapping Love’s Migration: Survey Reveals Popular & Unpopular Cities
Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

You're head-over-heels in love, and the thrill of a long-distance romance has been both sweet and exhilarating. But as time goes by, the prospect of uniting with your beloved in the same ZIP code becomes not just a dream, but a necessity. However, does the allure of your significant other's city sway your decision in making the leap? What if love calls from the sun-kissed beaches of Miami or the bustling streets of...

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125.
10 Best Relationship Counselors of 2024
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

If you and your partner fight, I have great news for you. So does every other couple — ever! Part of learning to navigate a romantic relationship is learning how to argue with them and how to get the most out of arguments. Disagreements, squabbles, and even bigger moments of discord all present the opportunity for you and your partner to deepen your connection and learn more about each other. If you’ve ever...

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126.
5 Real eharmony Success Stories
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

If you’re dating with the goal of finding a lasting relationship, it can be tricky to find the right online dating platform to support your goals. So many sites and apps offer impressive member bases, fun and interesting features, and all kinds of other perks for joining, but it’s hard to really know how successful online daters really are on any given site. Lots of relationship-minded daters out there wonder how...

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127.
Sophy Love Draws on Behavioral and Relationship Science to Match Clients Based on Self-Knowledge
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Coming off a broken engagement in her 20s, Sophy Singer went on 150 online dates and decided there had to be a better way. But only after exploring her inner turmoil did she understand the connection between emotional health and the capacity for intimacy. That led her to Sophy Love, where Sophy and her tight-knit team take a bespoke approach to matchmaking. Active in San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange...

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128.
The Best Advice for Secure Dating: Honor Your Sensitivity
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Insecurities are a big threat in dating. But they don’t have to be. Licensed Clinical Social Worker and host of the podcast "Deeper Dating" Ken Page talked to us about what insecurity is, why it arises, and how it can actually be a beneficial tool for singles as they navigate dating. When singles can explore and understand their sensitivities and what makes them insecure, they can step into their...

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129.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Dating – And Probably for the Better
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: The Singles in America study has been tracking American’s attitudes toward dating, relationships, sex, and love since 2010. Thirteen years and one pandemic since the first study, the 2023 release sheds light on how the COVID-19 pandemic changed dating, along with how Gen Z is shifting the scene. Match’s Chief Science Advisor and Biological Anthropologist, Dr. Helen Fisher, helped us explore the...

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130.
Infinite Intimacy Provides Holistic Counseling To Help Couples Reconnect
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Keeping healthy and strong relationships is one of the best things we can do for our overall health and life satisfaction. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Rachel Smith is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Sex Therapist, and she helps couples gain the skills and tools they need to grow in intimacy. Rachel talked to us about what holistic sex therapy looks like at her...

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131.
Why People Cheat…and How to Heal When Your Partner Does
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: As painful as it is, cheating is part of relationships. Understanding why people cheat can help you understand past relationships scarred by infidelity and learn how to look for partners who won’t cheat. Dr. Stan Tatkin, the founder of PACT Institute, explained the series of communication violations that come with cheating and explored the situations and feelings that come with infidelity. He...

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132.
3 Signs You’re Ready to Propose (and How to Pop the Question)
Hunt Ethridge

Hunt Ethridge

When I proposed to my wife, she laughed at me. Definitely NOT the reaction I was hoping for! Once she realized that I was serious and that it wasn’t, in fact, a joke, she accepted and hugged and kissed me. But man, for a few seconds there, every guy’s worst nightmare was happening! I botched the proposal. Well, not botched, but it definitely wasn’t the proposal I had in mind, either. Proposing is something that...

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133.
Rethinking Romance: The Impact of Debt on Dating in America
Jon McCallister

Jon McCallister

It’s a match! You've swiped right on killer smiles and profiles claiming a love for adventure, artisan coffee, and rescue dogs. But what happens when things get serious and the biggest adventure becomes navigating the choppy waters of personal debt? It’s a question that DatingAdvice.com sought an answer to. It surveyed 3,000 singles to ask a hypothetical question: If you were in a relationship with someone, and...

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134.
Selective Search Offers Luxury Matchmaking to Singles Ready for Commitment
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Matchmakers take the guesswork out of dating and give singles access to professional advice and guidance that makes finding love easier. Selective Search is a leader in the industry with over 4,000 in-house matches. The Chicago-based firm provides luxury and bespoke matchmaking services to singles across the United States. Vice President Lisa Hutcherson talked to us about Selective Search’s...

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135.
15 High School Dating Statistics & Studies[updated_month_year before=" (" after=")"]
Jamie Ballard

Jamie Ballard

A person’s first love is something special. TV shows and movies often promote the idea that most people’s first experiences with love and dating come when they’re teenagers in high school. But according to data on the topic, most teens today don’t date much, let alone have sex. What’s more, most high school relationships don’t last more than a matter of months, and even fewer result in a lifelong...

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136.
Nearly 75% of Americans Choose Their Phones Over Their Perfect Match
Jamie Ballard

Jamie Ballard

How much screen time is too much? Asking for a friend, of course. Jokes aside, many Americans are genuinely spending a lot of time on their phones. A new survey from DatingAdvice.com investigates just how much time Americans are spending on their phones and how addicted they are to their precious screen time.  The survey data finds that 50% of Americans would give up their phone if they won the lottery....

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137.
Modern Intimacy’s Dr. Kat Arenella Talks All Things Ethical Non-Monogamy
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Ethical non-monogamy is the term used to describe a wide array of relationships in which people have more than one intimate romantic partner. Dr. Kat Arenella, a sex therapist with Modern Intimacy, told us about ethical non-monogamy and shared tips for individuals and couples considering exploring non-monogamous relationships. From swinging to open relationships, Dr. Kat has the answers to tons of...

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138.
9 Tips for Meeting Your SO’s Family Over the Holidays
Mackenzie Buck

Mackenzie Buck

I’m all about the “out with the old, in with the new” mentality when it comes to expectations surrounding modern relationships. As the holiday season approaches (and Mariah Carey resumes her position as number one on the music charts), however, a particularly antiquated mentality comes to mind — one that is summed up by the expression “No ring, no bring.” As much as I think we should resist lugging any ol’ Hinge...

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139.
68% of Americans Say Student Loans Are a Dealbreaker
Karen Belz

Karen Belz

It's fairly common for a young professional to be saddled with student loans. But do those loans have an impact on more than just a person’s financial outlook? Could it impair their dating prospects as well? The answers to those questions may very well be red flags for some daters who want to feel financially secure in their relationships. DatingAdvice conducted a survey to determine how student loans can factor...

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140.
Riding Solo: 70% of Americans Don’t Need a “Plus One” for the Holidays
Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Nov. 8, 2023 – DatingAdvice.com serves as an expert guide and resource to consumers for all things dating. The results of our Q4 2023 holiday survey explore trends in shopping, gift-giving, and plus-one etiquette. Most notably, our survey found that 7 in 10 consumers would attend a New Year's Eve party without a plus one. In addition to revealing surprising holiday dating and gifting trends,...

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141.
Dr. Jessica Higgins Says Overcoming the “Criticism Loop” Helps Couples Find Happiness
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Communication breakdown is one of the biggest issues couples face in relationships today. Dr. Jessica Higgins, a licensed psychologist and couples therapist, talked to us about common communication problems in relationships and what couples can do to overcome them. The “criticism loop” is when couples lead their communication with criticisms and intellect instead of emotion. Dr. Jessica said...

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142.
TantraNova Founder Dr. Elsbeth Meuth Says Tantra Helps Couples Achieve Dream Intimacy
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

The Short Version: Dr. Elsbeth Meuth is a Tantra expert and the founder of TantraNova. TantraNova is an online platform that connects singles and couples to Tantric retreats and private workshops. Tantra is a complex philosophy developed on the Indian subcontinent that is concerned with weaving together the energetic, physical, and spiritual. Dr. Elsbeth told us about Tantra and how everyone – single or in a...

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143.
Friends Before Dating Statistics — What Do the Numbers Say?[updated_month_year before=" (" after=")"]
Mackenzie Buck

Mackenzie Buck

As a child of divorce (everybody’s favorite way to start off an article about dating), I've paid my dues as a skeptic of romantic love. Throughout my quest to gain a better understanding of this powerful, mystic force, I’ve made it a point to seek out long-lasting couples and ask them what they think is the secret sauce to their success. And the most common answer I get? “At the end of the day, we’re best...

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144.
13 Interracial Dating Statistics & Studies[updated_month_year before=" (" after=")"]
Mackenzie Buck

Mackenzie Buck

When I was in college, I had a Black professor who grew up in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. He shared many horrifying stories about what it was like during this dark period of American history, but one story stood out to me.  One night he'd gone on a date with a white woman he’d met at a local diner down the street from his apartment. The next day, after awakening to the smell of...

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145.
A Creative Cake from The Makery Can Make Your Colorado Wedding Extra Special
Lexi Inks

Lexi Inks

The Short Version: Among all the details and decisions associated with getting married, one of the most impactful is your choice of wedding cake. Choosing a wedding cake is an opportunity to put your stamp of love on your event, but only if you place creative responsibility in the hands of craftspeople who care. In Denver and all of Colorado, the sugar artists at The Makery have your back. At The Makery, you can...

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146.
10 Best Apps for Couples of 2023
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

There are thousands of apps dedicated to helping singles find a relationship. But where are the apps dedicated to helping them keep those relationships? Dating apps are now an integral part of the dating scene, but there are fewer smartphone assistance options for keeping relationships than there are for finding them. These apps are designed to help couples lead happier and healthier relationships. From all-in-one...

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147.
6 Dating Sites With the Best Marriage Success Rates[updated_month_year before=" (" after=")"]
Amber Brooks

Amber Brooks

Although online dating is still the subject of jokes for comedians and sitcoms, several studies indicate that marriages that start with an online relationship typically result in higher marital satisfaction. Studies also indicate that people who meet a spouse online are much less likely to divorce, compared to those who meet their partners through more conventional methods. If you’re looking for long-term love,...

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148.
10 Best Relationship Coaches for 2023
Chloë Hylkema

Chloë Hylkema

Not to be a buzzkill, but love isn’t enough when it comes to relationships. While love is obviously necessary in romantic relationships, it doesn’t do all the heavy lifting. Rather, it’s the foundation for a healthy, happy, and long-lasting partnership. The happiest couples have shared values and goals, along with the tools they need to communicate with each other more effectively. They set boundaries and pursue...

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149.
11 Tinder Dating Statistics That Prove Swiping Works[updated_month_year before=" (" after=")"]
Mackenzie Buck

Mackenzie Buck

The first time my mom talked to me about Tinder, we were sitting on a terrace in Madrid, sipping white wine. We were knee-deep in some conversation about my new international bank card — as I had just moved to the Spanish metropolis a week ago — when my phone lit up on the table.  She must have recognized the red flame logo because she immediately crinkled her nose and asked: “Is that Tinder?!” And so we...

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150.
Craft a Sweeter Connection With Your Partner by Gifting a Box of Curated Cookies and Treats
Jordan Sprogis

Jordan Sprogis

The Short Version: Whether you are starting a budding romance, are in a long-term relationship, or have been married for years, gift giving is a great way to show your partner that you care. Instead of saying, “I love you” or “I was thinking of you,” a sweet yet simple gesture can convey a heartfelt message. And what’s sweeter than gift boxes from Cookie Society? Co-Founder Marissa Allen told us the gift of giving...

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Amber Brooks

By: Amber Brooks

Editor-in-Chief

Amber Brooks is the Editor-in-Chief at DatingAdvice.com. When she was growing up, her family teased her for being "boy crazy," but she preferred to think of herself as a budding dating and relationship expert. As an English major at the University of Florida, Amber honed her communication skills to write clearly, knowledgeably, and passionately about a variety of subjects. Now with over 1,800 lifestyle articles to her name, Amber brings her tireless wit and relatable experiences to DatingAdvice.com. She has been quoted by the Washington Times, Cosmopolitan, The New York Post, and AskMen, among others.

See Amber's full bio »

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