Two Beds Are Better Than One

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Mike_Catherall]Mike Catherall
A research team at the University of Victoria is looking for committed couples that live apart. This non-traditional relationship is becoming a popular choice in modern times. Opposite and same-sex couples are being recruited for the program, which will last a minimum of five years. Sociology researchers are studying this trend in the hopes of explaining why and how these relationships come about.
The lead researchers are Dr. Karen Kobayashi and Dr. Laura Funk. The researchers say they are interested in the experiences of couples who are "living apart together", why couples choose this type of relationship, and what challenges and benefits are associated with them. Their research began in May 2011, through UVic's Centre on Aging and Department of Sociology. The title of the project is "Loving the Distance Between: Living Apart Together Relationships."
The research is partially prompted by a Statistics Canada survey done in 2001. The survey found that eight percent of Canadians age 20 and older were in a committed LAT relationship. These relationships allow the parters to retain a degree of independence, as well as their own personal space, while enjoying the comfort and other benefits of a committed relationship. Some couples find they experience more happiness when they can keep their bank accounts and dirty laundry separate. Living apart gives them time to get to know each other, without the high stakes of a live-in arrangement.
To participate in the research study, volunteers must be 25 or older and have been in their current relationship for at least five years. The participants also have to live apart from each other. This can mean living in the same apartment building, but in different units, or in separate cities, across the country. The relationships need to be long-term and committed.
The trend toward relationships in which the two partners live separately represents a major shift from the traditional partnership, which usually involves moving in together as a sign of serious commitment. Some researchers believe the trend suggests a societal change in values. Kobayashi and Funk hope to uncover the effects of this change in their study.
On a materialistic level, LAT relationships require the two parties to pay individual rent and own separate furniture. Couples are required, by the parameters of their relationship, to own two separate   rel=nofollow [http://www.simmonsmattressgallery.ca]mattresses, pay two sets of bills and spend money on travel to see each other. Another interesting research study might look at how this economic situation might impact society as a whole.
Additionally, it's unclear how being in an LAT relationship affects other aspects of life, such as sleep, intimacy, and trust between the partners. The hope is that the study going on at the University of Victoria and other future studies will shed some light on these and other issues.
Mike Catherall is the founder of [http://www.immersioncreative.com]Vancouver advertising agency Immersion Creative.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Two-Beds-Are-Better-Than-One&id=6436642] Two Beds Are Better Than One