“It goes to show the power of ‘thank you.’ Even if a couple is experiencing distress and difficulty in other areas, gratitude in the relationship can help promote positive marital outcomes.” the study’s lead author Allen Barton said.

Barton and his colleagues questioned 468 married people about their communication and how valued they felt.

The results showed that simply saying “thank you” could cancel the negative effects of miscommunication and being under pressure or stressed.

“Importantly, we found that when couples are engaging in a negative conflict pattern like demand or withdrawal, expressions of gratitude and appreciation can counteract or buffer the negative effects of this type of interaction on marital stability,” co-author Ted Futris added.

Saying these two words are key to a happy relationship, experts reveal