Watch CBS News

William Paterson University Study: Money Won't Make Your Relationship Work

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - It turns out the Beatles were right when they sang "Money can't buy me love."

WCBS 880's Peter Haskell On The Story

Podcast

"The more emphasis you put on money and material things, the less satisfied you will be in your relationships," says Luke Dean, a financial planning professor at William Paterson University in New Jersey.

His research finds one materialistic person in a relationship leads to conflict. Two materialistic people leads to more conflict.

"When individuals place too much emphasis on money and material things, they're taking their focus off other things, like their relationship," Dean told WCBS 880 reporter Peter Haskell.

Dean studied more than 1,700 married couples.

He found the less materialistic the people were, the happier they were.

"The lesson is that we should focus more on people and relationships than on money and material things," said Dean.

The study was published this week in the "Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy."

What do you think of this story? Sound off in the comments section below!

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.