If you want to make your partner feel loved and appreciated this Valentine's Day, carry out a random act of kindness, such as bringing them tea in bed, and try not to snore or eat noisily.

UK scientists are carrying out a major two-year study into relationships in the 21st century and interim results reveal that in the current recession, couples are working hard to stay together.

Over 4,200 people in long-term relationships are taking part and the results show that simple gestures, random acts of kindness and saying ‘thank you' all go a long way in making people feel loved.

However, plenty of people admit to also being irritated by their partners, with snoring, noisy eating and even badly stacking the dishwasher high up on the list.

The findings show that mothers tend to be more negative about the quality of their relationship than women without children. However overall, mothers are significantly happier with their lives than any other group, suggesting that children are the primary source of happiness for women.

Furthermore, while fathers are more likely to describe their partners as the most important person in their lives, mothers are more likely to say that their children are the most important.

The study also shows that gay couples tend to be happier with their relationships than heterosexual couples.

Meanwhile, sharing beliefs and interests is also considered very important by many people. In fact, having things in common is seen as ‘a key connector in the relationship', the scientists explained.

The study also asked whether a stressful event in the last two years, such as a bereavement or a redundancy, had adversely impacted the relationship. However, the results indicate that such events actually cause people to pull together and work through the difficult times.

The study by the Open University is due to finish in September of this year.