Relationship Checker

Take our relationship checker to see where you are with your relationship and what you could improve. It might be interesting to ask your partner to do the checker as well and then chat about your results.

If you would like to discuss your results, or any aspect of your relationship with a Relate counsellor, you can call us confidentially on 0300 100 1234.

Relationship Checker

How do you and your partner enjoy each other's company?

A
We're interested in the same things and regularly have fun together.
B
We don't share many interests but the ones we do are really important to us.
C
We lead quite independent lives and I wish we could do more things together that we both enjoy.
D
We've been drifting apart for a while and I don’t really feel like doing things together.

How close are the two of you?

A
Most of the time we're close, but we do sometimes get distracted by everyday stresses and have to try hard to make time for each other.
B
I'd describe my other half as my best mate. We're always in touch and there's nothing I wouldn’t or couldn't chat to them about.
C
We don't talk about personal or emotional stuff very often. It's more of a practical relationship.
D
I don't feel very close to my other half. We don't really talk about anything other than the essentials.

How would you describe your sex life?

A
We both feel the same about sex and enjoy it.
B
We think differently about sex and it often causes arguments.
C
Most of the time we enjoy sex, but we can sometimes I feel that our needs are different and that can cause problems.
D
I don't enjoy sex with my other half.

How do you go about resolving arguments?

A
We don't bother disagreeing about anything anymore - it's just not worth it.
B
We can get angry and upset when we disagree on something, but after a while we make up and find a solution.
C
When we disagree on something, one or both of usually gets really upset or angry. Sometimes we give up trying to sort it and end up arguing again.
D
We hold our hands up and admit our faults, then focus on finding a compromise that suits us both.

Have you made plans together for the next stage of your life?

A
We tend to take it one day at a time and haven’t talked about what we want in the future.
B
We haven't really planned it out, but I know we'll work it out together.
C
In general, I think we want the same things from our later life, but I do worry a bit that we haven't properly discussed it.
D
We have thought about the next stage of our lives and we have planned how we want to spend it together.

So how did you do?

Congratulations - your relationship is looking very healthy indeed and it looks like you're ready for what this stage of life might throw at you. Over time. you've discovered together that relationships take time, commitment and open communication and you're reaping the rewards. The fact that you've done this quiz also demonstrates that, despite having lots of relationships experience and wisdom, you don't take your relationship for granted and you want to keep learning, which is really important. If you want to make your relationship even better, have a look back through the questions and consider what changes you and your partner might want to make.

To improve your relationship skills further, take a look at the workshop and courses section of our website at www.relate.org.uk

On the whole your relationship is in good shape. Although there are a number of differences between you and your partner, you're able to respect those differences and work through them together. If you don’t already do so, you may find it helpful to spend more time focusing on the many good things you share together to ensure these continue to outweigh any irritating niggles. It's also important, if you haven’t done so already, to spend some time discussing together how you want this next phase of your life to be, and how to work with each other's differences to make sure you both enjoy a happy later life.

Relate has a wide range of books to help you have a healthy relationship. Visit the bookshop section of our website at www.relate.org.uk

You may be finding your relationship often feels like a struggle. You still have many positive qualities but there are quite a few areas that can cause conflict or distance between you and you might find that these differences are highlighted as you go through the transition into later life. You might find it helpful to go back through this quiz and highlight the areas that you think are most important to start work on and either do it on your own or with a Relate counsellor.

If things are difficult in your relationship, you can get free online immediate support from our LiveChat service at www.relate.org.uk

It looks as though your relationship is going through a particularly difficult time at the moment. Perhaps this is a temporary blip because one or both of you is finding it difficult to adjust to the challenges of later life, or perhaps you've been in this place for a while. It's quite normal for relationships to go through difficult times at key life transitions. At Relate, we know that the shift into later life causes issues for a lot of couples as they change from working to retirement, or family relationships change as children get older. Either way, you'll probably find it helpful to put some time aside, either alone, with your partner or with a Relate counsellor to think about the changes you'd like to make to improve your relationship.

If you are finding things tough, visit www.relate.org.uk Or call 0300 100 1234 to book an appointment to get your relationship back on track.

If you're experiencing any violence or abuse within your relationship then you should seek help immediately. Even if you think every other area of your relationship is okay, no-one should be living within an environment where they feel controlled or fearful. If this describes your situation then you can contact Relate to speak to one of our trained counsellors on 0300 100 1234, visit www.relate.org.uk or you could also contact the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.