Fighting with your spouse a lot lately? A drug may be able to help you fix that.


Researchers from the University of Oxford recently argued that administering the hormone oxytocin to couples may improve marital well-being.


In a paper to be published in an upcoming issue of the journal Current Opinion in Psychology, researchers proposed that, because oxytocin facilitates attachment and bonding, an intranasal dose of the hormone -- in conjunction with marriage counseling -- could improve closeness between married partners.


Researchers have suggested using oxytocin as a "love drug" before. A 2008 study by the University of Zurich found that couples who received a dose of oxytocin in the form of a nasal spray had lower levels of stress hormones and exhibited more positive behavior (such as listening and laughing) during conflicts.


A recent Israeli study also found that oxytocin receptor genes are linked to empathy in couples.


Would you ever take a drug to improve your marriage? Sound off in the comments.


Read more interesting research findings about marriage in the slideshow below.





  • Online Gaming Can Hurt Your Marriage


    According to a Brigham Young University study, couples reported <a href="http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/16/is-online-gaming-messing-up-your-marriage/">lower marital satisfaction</a> when one spouse's gaming interfered with bedtime routines. Seventy-five percent of gamers' spouses wished their partners would put more effort into their marriages; however, when both spouses gamed, a majority reported greater satisfaction in their relationships.




  • The "Honeymoon Phase" Is A Myth


    It turns out couples are happiest <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/marriage-research_n_2234804.html?utm_hp_ref=marriage">AFTER their first year of marriage</a>, according to an Australian study. Newlyweds were found to have a lower happiness score than couples who had been married longer. Researcher Melissa Weinberg attributed this to a "wedding hangover," or the depressed feeling couples get when the wedding is over and the marriage begins.




  • Getting Angry Can Help Your Relationship


    Florida State University researchers discovered that short-term angry discussions can <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-08-21/news/33307414_1_relationships-forgiveness-successful-marriage">actually be beneficial</a>. Getting angry can help signal that certain behavior from your partner is unacceptable, said lead researcher James McNulty.




  • Cohabitating Couples Shown To Be Happier Than Married Couples


    A study released in January found that while married couples exhibited health gains (most likely due to marriage benefits such as shared health plans), unmarried cohabitating couples experienced <a href="http://news.health.com/2012/01/23/living-together-may-be-mentally-healthier-than-marriage-study/" target="_hplink">greater happiness and self-esteem</a>.
    Clarification: Language has been amended in this slide to represent more accurately the findings of the report.




  • The Later You Have Sex, The Better Your Relationships


    Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that having sexual intercourse at a later age corresponded with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/10/19/virginity-and-marriage-_n_1981755.html?just_reloaded=1">less dissatisfaction with relationships</a> in adulthood. Higher education level and household income also corresponded to a later age of first sexual experience.




  • Interracial Marriage Rates And Acceptance Rising


    Not only are <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/16/us/interracial-marriage/index.html">more interracial couples marrying</a>, but interracial marriage is more widely accepted than ever before. In 2010, 15 percent of new marriages in the U.S. were between spouses of different races; in 1980, only 6.7 percent of marriages were interracial.




  • Married People Are Healthier, Live Longer Than Singles


    <a href="http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2012/11/14/study-married-couples-live-longer-healthier-lives-than-singles/">Studies show</a> that married couples experience lower levels of cancer, heart disease, depression and stress. The health benefits are even more pronounced for marrieds than for couples who are simply cohabiting.




  • Young People Expect Marriages To Last


    A survey found that 86 percent of single and married people aged 18-29 <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/marriage-expectations_n_1784371.html">expect their marriages</a> to last a lifetime. Researcher Jeffrey Jensen Arnett told HuffPost that young people tend to have a romantic view of marriage and go into marriage determined to make it work.




  • Married Women Drink More Than Single Women


    A <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/20/marriage-alcohol-study-wives-drink-single-women_n_1810133.html">study on marriage and alcohol</a> found that women drink more after getting married, possibly because they are influenced by their husbands (on average, men drink more than women). Men, on the other hand, were found to drink less after getting hitched.




  • Son-In-Law Key To Successful Marriage


    Here's another reason to get along with your in-laws -- unless you're a woman, that is. A <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/in-laws-and-marriage_n_2199637.html">26-year longitudinal study</a> found that when a husband reported having a close relationship with his wife's parents, the couple's risk of divorce decreased by 20 percent. Conversely, when a wife reported having a close relationship with her husband's parents, the couple's risk of divorce increased by 20 percent.





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