Phone habits which show you have strong relationship with partner, study reveals

SEXTING your partner could be a sign of a strong relationship and sex life, a study suggests.

Couples who share risqué messages or pics were found to be “significantly” more satisfied than those who do not.

Previous polls indicated three-quarters of adults have sent a nude picture or lewd text to a lover.

In the latest study of 771 people aged 17 to 73, some 81 per cent had sent and received saucy texts in their current relationship — and it was more common with long-term partners.

Sexters were spurred on when they knew that their partner would enjoy receiving the messages.

Researchers said the thrill may come from the arousing content or from knowing it is naughty and the thrill of getting caught.

Study author Tasha Falconer, of the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, said sexting was a “maintenance behaviour to continue the sexual aspect of the relationship”.

She added: “Participants mentioned they used sexting to keep romance and passion alive.”

However, the research could not prove for certain whether sexting made couples happier or happier couples did it.