When a couple, men, women don't think differently

Sydney: Men and women do not think, react and behave differently in a relationship, an Australian study has found.

The study by Deakin University of Melbourne among 75 couples aged 19-63 and together for an average of 15 years, has found no evidence of gender differences, the Herald Sun reported.

A team headed by researcher Gery Karantzas asked the couples about their relationship satisfaction, attachment style, trust, level of support, modes of communication, conflict and intimacy.

The 150 men and women said they were secure, and had low levels of destructive, conflict-centred communication.

They had high levels of partner support, trust and intimacy.

The researchers said the couples had been attracted in the first place because of similarities.

John Gray, author of the 1992 book "Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus", had earlier suggested that men and women had vast differences.

Men valued power, competence and achievement while women valued feelings and the quality of relationships.

The study was published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies.