data-driven insights into relationships and compatibility
The Love Formula data analysis evolved from an independent survey examining whether couples who remain together exhibit closer alignment in Values and Traits compared to those who break up. The survey was administered through Survey Monkey.​
The survey comprised three sections:
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Personal Profile: Age, sex, and relationship status
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Values: Self-evaluation and partner evaluation
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Traits: Partner evaluation
02
Self v. Partner Perceptions
Self Score Analysis by Age
18–24 Years
Average Self Score: 79%
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This average suggested that young adults in this age group generally held a positive view of how well they embodied their most important Values. This is significantly higher than other groups.
Range: 66%–94%
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The narrower range indicated more consistency among individuals in their self-assessment, with fewer experiencing extremely low self-evaluations.
Median: 80%
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The median score, slightly above the average, indicated that at least half of the young adults rated themselves at 80% or higher, suggesting a robust confidence in aligning with their Values.
25–34 Years
Average Self Score: 74%
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This average indicated a generally positive but slightly less optimistic self-perception compared to the younger cohort.
Range: 20–100%
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The wide range showed significant variability in self-assessment, with some scoring as low as 20% and others achieving perfect Scores.
Median: 76%
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The median score was slightly above the average, indicating that a majority still rated themselves relatively high, despite some low evaluations.
35–44 Years
Average Self Score: 73%
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This average depicted a slightly lower yet still positive self-perception among this age group.
Range: 20–100%
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The range was similar to the 25–34 cohort, suggesting continued variability in how individuals viewed themselves.
Median: 76%
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With a median consistent with the previous group, most in this bracket felt confident about how they met their personal standards.
45–54 Years
Average Self Score: 74%
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The average indicated a stable self-view similar to younger age groups.
Range: 44–100%
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The absence of extremely low Scores suggested more uniform positive self-assessment in this group.
Median: 76%
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The median, consistent with other adult groups, pointed to a prevailing sense of positive self-worth.
55–64 Years
Average Self Score: 73%
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This average reflected a similar trend as earlier groups, with a slight variation in how individuals saw themselves.
Range: 28–100%
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While mostly positive, the range indicated that some individuals in this age group rated themselves significantly lower.
Median: 78%
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The median being higher than the average suggested that the majority had a relatively high confidence in their Values.
65+ Years
Average Self Score: 67%
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The lowest average among the groups suggests that older adults might be more critical or realistic about how well they align with their Values.
Range: 30-90%
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This narrower range indicated less variability, with older adults generally scoring themselves within a tighter bracket.
Median: 74%
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Despite the lower average, the median indicated that many still maintained a relatively positive view of themselves.
The boxplot above presents the average Self Scores segmented by age groups, indicating their self-confidence.
The analysis of Self Scores across different age groups revealed several trends tied to age-related dynamics. Individuals in their late twenties to early forties showed the greatest variability in Self Scores, potentially reflecting the transitional phases of life, such as career establishment and family building. As individuals aged, there was a trend toward increasing stability, with older age groups tending to have higher medians relative to their averages, suggesting a growing contentment or acceptance of their personal characteristics. In the oldest cohort, both the lowest average and a narrower range were observed, indicating a trend toward more conservative self-assessment in later years. This pattern may reflect a more reflective and perhaps critical view of personal achievements and values in later life.
Self Score Analysis by Gender
Women
Average Self Score: 76.27%
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Women, on average, scored themselves slightly higher than men, indicating a generally higher self-esteem or stronger alignment with their Values.
Range: 33.33–100%
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The range for women was less broad on the lower end than for men, suggesting fewer women rated themselves very low on their Values.
Median: 78%
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The median was higher than the average, reinforcing that the majority of women felt positively about how well they met their own standards.
The provided data and boxplot offer a detailed view of how men and women scored themselves on Values they deemed important, revealing both the central tendency and variability in self-perception across genders.
The analysis of self-perception across genders revealed that women tended to have higher average and median Scores, indicating a more positive self-assessment compared to men. This difference suggests that women may have higher self-esteem and a stronger resonance with the Values they consider most important. Conversely, the lower minimum Scores observed for men might imply that men are more critical of themselves or show greater variability in adhering to their personal standards. Overall, the data points to a generally positive self-view among both genders, with women displaying slightly more favorable self-perceptions. The broader range of lower Scores in men could indicate a more diverse perspective on what constitutes personal success or commitment to their own Values, highlighting interesting gender differences in self-assessment and alignment.
Self Scores vs. Partner Scores for Men and Women in Different Relationship Statuses
"We Are Currently Together"
Self Score:
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The average was 76.05%, indicating a high level of self-satisfaction regarding personal accomplishments and lifestyle choices. This reflects good self-esteem within the stability of a relationship.
Partner Score:
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The average was 80.66%, suggesting that the study’s participants generally viewed their partners even more positively than themselves. This may imply admiration or seeing positive qualities in the partner that they value highly.
Difference:
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This was -4.61%, showing that people rated their partners slightly better than themselves; this could be indicative of a healthy relational dynamic where partners see the best in each other, fostering a supportive and uplifting environment. This positive discrepancy highlights that seeing a partner in a slightly better light than oneself can contribute to overall relationship satisfaction and stability.
"I Broke up with Him/Her"
Self Score:
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The average was 78.20%, showing that even after initiating a breakup, individuals maintained a high self-regard, possibly reflecting confidence in their decision and alignment with personal standards.
Partner Score:
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The average was 54.89%, which was significantly lower than the Self Score, indicating a stark reevaluation of the partner post-breakup, possibly due to perceived shortcomings or incompatibilities that led to the breakup.
Difference:
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This was at 24.11%, a large difference that highlighted the disparity between self-perception and perception of the partner in this scenario. This illustrates that the person initiating the breakup perceived a significant misalignment between their personal achievements, lifestyle choices, and standards and those of their partner.
"It Was a Mutual Breakup"
Self Score:
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The average was 70.72%, which was lower than in stable relationships, reflecting a possible impact on self-esteem due to the mutual decision to part ways.
Partner Score:
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The average was 60.58%, also lower, suggesting that mutual breakups led to a diminished view of the partner.
Difference:
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This was 10.14%, indicating that despite mutual breakups affecting self-view, individuals still tended to hold themselves in higher regard than their partners.
"He/She Broke up with Me"
Self Score:
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The average was 70.02%, similar to a mutual breakup scenario, indicating the impact of being broken up with on self-esteem and self-view.
Partner Score:
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The average was 53.71%, which was very low and likely reflects negative and resentful feelings toward the partner who initiated the breakup.
Difference:
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The difference of 16.31% illustrates the complex dynamics of self-perception and partner perception. It could reflect a defensive mechanism where the person rationalizes the breakup by devaluing the partner, which helps maintain their self-esteem. This disparity can be a natural response as the individual attempts to cope with the pain of rejection by devaluing the partner.
"We Are Currently on a 'Break'"
Self Score:
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The average was 73.20%, indicating that individuals maintained relatively good self-esteem during periods of uncertainty in the relationship.
Partner Score:
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The average was 67.55%, lower than the Self Score but not drastically, suggesting that while there was uncertainty, there was still a fairly positive view of the partner.
Difference:
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5.65%, a moderate difference that suggested less disparity in the view of self and partner during a break compared to breakup scenarios. This implies that individuals might have still held themselves in slightly higher regard, and they did not drastically undervalue their partners, suggesting there remained a level of respect and affection. It’s possible they believed in the potential for resolving issues and reconciling. This small disparity suggests that during this reflection, there’s an acknowledgment of both one’s own value and the partner’s positive qualities, even though they may currently be navigating through uncertainties or conflicts within the relationship.
This boxplot provides an analysis of Self Scores and Partner Scores across different relationship statuses.
The boxplot analysis of self and partner scores across different relationship statuses reveals insightful trends in self-perception and partner evaluation. Individuals in stable relationships rate themselves and their partners highly, with a slight bias toward viewing their partners more favorably. Those who initiated breakups maintain high self-esteem but exhibit a sharp decline in their evaluation of their former partners, indicating a reassessment of compatibility post-separation.
Conversely, individuals who were broken up with show a significant drop in partner scores, possibly as a coping mechanism to rationalize the breakup. Mutual breakups result in a moderate decline in both self and partner scores, reflecting a shared acknowledgment of incompatibility. Lastly, those on a "break" maintain relatively stable self-esteem and a comparatively less negative perception of their partners, suggesting an openness to reconciliation. These patterns highlight the dynamic interplay between self-worth and partner perception across relationship transitions.
Partner Score by Relationship Status and Gender
"We Are Currently Together"
Men:
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The average Partner Score was 79%, reflecting a highly positive perception of their partners within the relationship.
Women:
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With an average Partner Score of 81%, women rated their partners slightly higher than men did, indicating a very favorable view of their partners while in a relationship.
"I Broke up with Him/Her"
Men:
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Post-breakup, men’s average Partner Score dropped to 58%, suggesting a decline in their perception of their partners after they initiated a breakup.
Women:
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Women also showed a decrease in Partner Score to 52%, indicating a similarly reduced view of their partners when they initiated the breakup.
"It Was a Mutual Breakup"
Men:
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The average Partner Score was 60%, showing a somewhat negative view but not as low as when the man initiated the breakup, perhaps due to the mutual nature of the decision.
Women:
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The average Partner Score for women in this scenario was also 60%, mirroring the Partner Scores for men, which indicates a shared sentiment about mutual breakups across genders.
The Partner Score was calculated using the average of the Partner Values Score and the Partner Traits Score. The boxplot illustrates Partner Scores separated by gender and relationship status. The first box in each pair represents men’s analysis of their partners, and the second represents women’s analysis of their partners.
"He/She Broke up with Me"
Men:
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When broken up with, men’s average Partner Score was 55%, the lowest among all statuses, likely reflecting resentment.
Women:
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Women’s average Partner Score was 52%, only slightly lower than when they initiated the breakup, suggesting that whoever initiated the breakup doesn’t drastically change their perception.
"We Are Currently on a 'Break'"
Men:
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The average Partner Score was 68%, indicating that even though the relationship was uncertain, men retained a relatively positive view of their partners.
Women:
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Women had an identical average Partner Score of 67%, showing that their perception of their partners during a “break” was on par with men’s.
In intact relationships, there’s a notable gender gap in Partner Scores, with men rating their partners higher than women do. Following a breakup, both genders rate their partners lower, but men’s Partner Scores drop more when they’re broken up with, while women’s Partner Score is consistently low regardless of who initiated the breakup. During a mutual breakup, both genders have an equal average Partner Score, suggesting a consensus in viewing the partner less favorably. For those on a “break,” both genders show almost the same average Partner Score, implying a hopeful or at least not an overly negative view of their partners despite the relationship pause.