How To Make A Marriage Last, According To People Who've Been Married For Decades

Karl Pillemer launched the Marriage Advice Project with one goal: to find out how long-lasting marriages survive the ups and downs of life.

Pillemer, a Cornell University gerontologist, studied over 700 elders, many of whom had been married for 50 to 70 years. After interviewing such a large sample of seasoned relationship "experts," he learned valuable -- and surprisingly simple -- lessons about communicating with a partner, handling marital stress and keeping the spark alive after years of marriage.

We've put together some of the footage from Pillemer's interviews in the video above to share a few of our favorite insights. Spoiler: A little hand-holding goes a long way, even after decades with the same person.

You can read more about the Marriage Advice Project in Karl Pillemer's recently released book, 30 Lessons for Loving: Advice from the Wisest Americans on Love, Relationships, and Marriage.

Video Edited by Irina DvalidzeStory Written by Rebecca Adams

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