Filipinos derive more fulfillment from their relationships with spouses and partners than in any other personal relationship, according to Asia’s first relationship index, launched by Pru Life UK.
The 2016 Pru Life UK Relationship Index measures, via a numerical score, how satisfied people are with their primary relationships and what can be done to improve them. Primary relationships include partners, children, family and friends.
In the Philippines, the Pru Life UK Relationship Index satisfaction score is 79 out of 100. This means on an average, Filipinos’ primary relationships fulfill 79 percent of their desired relationship needs, the second highest in Asia.
Respondents of the study said that they appreciate partners who enjoy doing things together (84 percent), respect their individuality (84 percent), are honest with them (82 percent), make each other laugh and smile (79 percent) and are easy to get along with (78 percent).
Filipinos also enjoy strong ties with their children, with a relationship score of 59/100, the highest in Asia. The average score for parents is 52/100, while the tally for best friends is 50/100. Colleagues, however, score just 27/100, although almost two-thirds (64 percent) of working Filipinos said some of their work colleagues are among their best friends.
Pru Life UK president and chief executive Antonio De Rosas said the Pru Life UK Relationship Index provides a snapshot of the health of relationships in the Philippines, highlighting the areas that contribute to happiness and those that require attention.
“Relationships are at the heart of our business. We know our customers buy our products to protect the people and relationships they care most about. We also know that good relationships are crucial to our happiness and good health. Through the Pru Life UK Relationship Index, we want to help Filipinos understand their relationships better so they can make them more rewarding,” De Rosas said.
“The findings from the research are both cause for celebration and concern. Celebration in that we Filipinos value relationships grounded on important attributes such as partnership, companionship, respect, and honesty. However, gaps are also present in the level of relationship satisfaction with family demands, financial uncertainty, and technology causing rising tension and stress,” he said.
The 2016 Pru Life UK Relationship Index indicates that Filipinos express their love for each other more than anyone else in Asia. About 87 percent tell their partners “I love you” once a week; 68 percent say so every day. Filipinos are also most likely in the region (87 percent) to share intimate moments with their partners. They are the most likely in the region to laugh with their partners as well; 89 percent do so at least once a week.