According to an article by Tara Parker-Pope, “no, but a new study says it’s crucial in a marriage”.  According to her article, ‘Men and women with the higher scores on the generosity scale were far more likely to report that they were ‘very happy’ in their marriages”.  Among those with lower generosity scores, “only about 14% claimed to be ‘very happy’ “.

How do you measure up?  Take this short questionnaire provided by Parker-Pope’s article.

Select the number in front of your answer and add up your score:

A. How often do you express affection or love to your partner?

1. Never
2. Seldom
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always

B. How often do you express respect or admiration to your partner?

1. Never
2. Seldom
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always

C. How often you perform small acts of kindness for your partner (eg making him or her coffee in the morning)?

1. Never
2. Seldom
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always

D. How often do you forgive your partner for his or her mistakes and failings?

1. Never
2. Seldom
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always

Scoring Interpretation:

• 14 points or lower: you need to make more of an effort to do nice things for your spouse
• 15-16: your marriage could benefit from more expressions of love or acts of kindness
• 17 or more: high levels of generosity usually reflect a very happy marriage

Source: nytimes.com