The "7-Year Itch" is now the 3-Year Glitch

Wisdom Quarterly

Relationships usually experience a stressful period when breaking up is much more likely. That used to be the seven year mark. This observation was made famous by Marilyn Monroe in "7 Year Itch." But as time seems to speed up and we are bombarded from all sides, the length of relationships has shortened so that the "itch" to cheat, leave, or create drama now tends to show up after three years. Heartbreak follows.

Forewarned is forearmed. This is not a death sentence for unions but a bump that must be negotiated skillfully unless we want to find oursevles perpetually single, dating, working, jobless, on, off... It's a pattern most of us would not welcome. But Hollywood addiction specialist Dr. Drew has a mantra: "Work it out, or act it out."

The "issues" relationships, which people say make them more growth-inspiring than Buddhist monasticism, bring up are not created by relationships. We have things to work out. Interestingly, these numbers are not random. Studies were conducted by social psychologists explaining why three and seven come up so often, but that's a separate issue.

"Seven Year Itch" montage with Amy Grant song

The 7-Year Itch is now the 3-Year Glitch

LONDON (Reuters) – The "three-year glitch" has replaced the "seven-year itch" as the tipping point where couples start to take each other for granted, according to a new survey.

Weight gain, stinginess, toe-nail clippings on the bathroom floor and snoring are a few of the passion-killers that have led to a swifter decline in relationships in the fast-paced 21st century, said the study commissioned by Warner Brothers to promote the release of comedy film "Hall Pass" in UK cinemas.

The survey of 2,000 British adults in steady relationships pinpointed the 36-month mark as the time when relationship stress levels peak and points to a new trend of "pink passes" and "solo" holidays away from partners and spouses that many Britons resort to in order to keep romance alive.

"Longer working hours combined with money worries are clearly taking their toll on modern relationships and we are seeing an increasing trend for solo holidays and weekends away from marriages and relationships in order to revive the romantic spark," said pollster Judi James who oversaw the survey. More>>