New study finds that surprising act with your partner is sign you're in a healthy relationship

We all have different definitions of what constitutes a healthy relationship but a new study has found one unexpected act to be key in proving a strong connection with your partner.

Relationships can be complicated, especially if you keep your partners on a pyramid-based schedule to ensure all four of them are happy like Ne-Yo supposedly does.

Some blokes even manage to date mums and their adult daughters at the same time, so no matter how messy things get in your relationship, remember that things could always be worse.

You've probably read plenty of studies from experts offering advice on when your marriage or relationship might be over, but let's focus on the positive, shall we?

It's something we probably all do (Getty Stock Images/Antonio Guillem)

A new study has identified one telling act as the sign of a healthy relationship, and for those of you concerned, it doesn't involve anything weird in the bedroom.

In fact, it's probably something you already do on a regular basis.

Researchers at the University of Reading recently published their findings, which suggest that periods of silence with a significant other could be a sign of emotional intimacy.

The study's authors explained: “Consider two exchanges between romantic partners: They look into each other’s eyes sharing intimacy and mutual understanding, or, a glance instead expresses judgment and displeasure as now they achieve a shared understanding that one partner has let down the other.

"In both instances, nothing is said yet much is communicated.”

Couples who enjoy being silent together are probably in a healthy relationship (Getty Stock Images/Peter Cade)

Participants in the study were asked to think about recent instances in their relationship or a previous poor experience with a partner, and explain what caused the silence and how they felt after it occurred.

In her final summary, study author Professor Netta Weinstein said: "Findings across studies showed that intrinsically motivated silence was felt with more positive affect and less negative affect, and that relationships were closer and more need satisfying during intrinsically motivated moments of silence.

"Introjected and externally motivated silences, on the other hand, were often linked to more negative affect and lower relational outcomes."

Ronan Keating was clearly ahead of the time in his 1999 banger 'When You Say Nothing At All', when he sang 'It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart. Without saying a word.'

So, if your partner is giving you the 'externally motivated' silent treatment, maybe don't take that as a positive sign that everything is alright. But if you and your partner enjoy sitting in silence together while doing your own thing then good news, chances are you're in a healthy relationship.