Nearly two thirds of Chinese people believe love is the most important component in a happy marriage, according to a recent national survey.
Sixty-two percent of the respondents in a national survey said “love between spouses” was the most important factor, compared to only 37 per cent who thought income mattered more.
But 70 per cent of Chinese women believe children are the most important element in wedded bliss.
The People’s Daily Online reported the top ten results from the survey. They were:
1) Love between spouses
2) Willingness and ability to communicate and understand
3) Loyalty
4) Children
5) Income
6) Sex life
7) Relationships between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law
8) Relationships with spouse’s family members
9) Housing conditions
10) Housework allocation
Almost 80 per cent of the people surveyed said they would marry the same partner, given the chance to choose again. However, only 58 per cent said they were sure they wouldn’t be unfaithful if they met someone new who they liked.
The survey was conducted by Chinese publication Wellbeing Magazine and Tsinghua Media Survey Lab.
The divorce rate in China has surged in recent years, rising for seven straight years according to The People’s Daily. In 2009 1.2 million Chinese people married, but in the same year almost 2 million were divorced. In Shanghai alone the number of divorces in 2012 rose by 13 per cent to over 44,000 couples.
