Rom-coms wreck love lives

Why you should steer clear of rom-coms when cosying up on the sofa this Christmas

Avoid settling in to watch a cheesy rom-com this Christmas with a loved one – apparently the light relief movies will ruin your love life.

A study by Edinburgh University claims rom-coms are responsible for ruining relationships after setting unrealistic expectations when it comes to people's love lives.

The main culprits? Runaway Bride, Notting Hill, You've Got Mail and Maid in Manhattan are all to be avoided, say psychologists who believe the films' common themes give people unrealistic notions of how relationships function.

The study discovered many fans of rom-com films often failed to communicate effectively with their partner. Of the 100 volunteers who were analysed, many believed that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should determine what you want without you communicating it to them. In effect, guess work then!

Dr Bjarne Holmes who led the study commented: 'Marriage counsellors often see couples who believe that sex should always be perfect, and if someone is meant to be with you then they will know what you want without you needing to communicate it.'

'We now have some emerging evidence that suggests popular media play a role in perpetuating these ideas in people's minds.'

Another expert who worked on the study, Kimberly Johnson said: 'Films do capture the excitement of new relationships but they also wrongly suggest that trust and committed love exist from the moment people meet, whereas these are qualities that normally take years to develop.'

So this Christmas maybe settle down to…The Snowman instead!