DAR ES SALAAM, April 2 -- DECADES of research on couples has identified many patterns that can help predict the odds of a couple standing the test of time, but there is always something new to learn.

Now, an additional factor has shown potential to be important: how much a couple is willing to pause and appreciate their shared experiences.

This newest study, which comes from research at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, included nearly 600 adults from the United States.

Their average age was 39, and 85 per cent were married, with 10 per cent engaged and 4 per cent in committed relationships that did not include engagement or marriage. Slightly more than half were women.

Participants were enrolled individually, without their...