WASHINGTON DC: This may come as a surprise, but avoiding your spouse can benefit your relationship, according to a new study.

According to research published in the ‘Journal of Personality and Social Psychology’, ignoring a spouse’s demands may benefit low-income couples but negatively affect higher-income couple’s relationship.

“Consider this example: A wife requests that her husband asks for a raise at work. For a husband in a low-wage job with less job security, that is a risky proposition. By showing reluctance to ask for the raise, he can preserve his self-esteem and lessen emphasis on the couple’s vulnerable financial situation,” said the lead author of the study Jaclyn M. Ross. “For a wealthier couple in the same situation, the wife may perceive that the husband is unwilling to make a sacrifice for his family and that can cause friction in the relationship,” Ross added.