Who says “I love you” first? Studies show whether they are men or women

You break it.

A study published in the SAGE Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that men in heterosexual relationships tend to say “I love you” first.

The researchers had 3,109 adults (over 70% women and 85% heterosexual) from Australia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, Poland and the United Kingdom complete several online questionnaires about their relationships.

Contrary to stereotypical gender norms, the global research team found that in six of the seven regions (all except France), men are more likely to admit love first.

On average, men started thinking about admitting their love 69 days into a relationship, while women took 77 days to think about it.

Although lovers may have felt it for a while, “I love you” was typically said after 107 days for men and 122 days for women.

Not surprisingly, although attachment styles influenced their responses, most participants felt happy when they heard their partner say those three little words.

People with an “avoidant” attachment style (those who are highly independent both physically and emotionally and seek distance in relationships) were less enthusiastic when told “I love you,” while those with an “anxious” attachment style (those who who … are concerned with their partner’s ability to react) were significantly more satisfied.

previous research found that men in the US are more likely to confess their love first.

An emotional connection is obviously an essential part of any romantic relationship — and new research shows it’s a key element of “good sex,” too.

A stunning study published in Sexuality & Culture magazine in May found that the three factors that contribute to someone considering a sexual encounter “great” are orgasm, emotional connection, and chemistry.

Although difficult to define, an emotional connection was the second most important factor in exceptional sex.

Many participants in the study certainly made it clear that an emotional connection can exist without romantic love, but eight participants explicitly equated an emotional component with love.

In contrast, 16 participants did not require an emotional connection for excellent sex.

However, the researchers found that gender differences were evident in these opinions, with some women prioritizing emotional connection over physical satisfaction.