Relationships which begin online are 25 per cent less likely to end in divorce, according to new research.
Psychologists at the University of Chicago examined experiences of happiness amongst nearly 20,000 people. Slightly more than a third of the subjects had originally met their husband or wife online, via dating sites, social networking site of chat rooms.
Amongst subjects who were marred when they completed the survey, people who met their partners online reported higher levels of happiness.
By contrast, the Mail reports, relationships which began in other ways, such as via blind dates or through meetings at work or in bars were 25 per cent more likely to have ended by the time of the survey. People who met their partners in such ways also said they were less satisfied with their relationships than online daters.
Lead researcher John Cacioppo said the much greater pool of potential partners to choose from online made it easier to find compatible mates.