And you thought you were just asleep…

Want to know how healthy your marriage really is? Well, take a good look at the position

you and your partner assume in bed tonight.

…No, no, we’re not talking about your weekly ‘sexy time’ – although that certainly won’t hinder your relationship – but rather the way you sleep together. Or the way you sleep apart. Or perhaps both, depending on the temperature.

Sorry, guys. Bad news.

According to a study published during the Edinburgh International Science Festival (yes, this is science, folks), the amount of physical contact couples have as they lie unconscious next to each other says a lot about how happy they are.

Out of 1100 people surveyed, those who had some level of contact during sleep were more satisfied with their relationship, with 94% of respondents indicating this. Clearly these people have never experienced the horror that is the Awkward Spooning Arm because that is the very definition of unsatisfying.

Meanwhile, only 68% of those who kept their distance said they were satisfied.

Within these two groups, different sleeping positions and directions saw varying results:

Face to face, not touching: 55%

Back-to-back, but touching: 91%

Facing same direction, but touching: 91%

Back-to-back, but not touching: 74%

Facing same direction, but not touching: 76%

This is all very interesting, but we're not entirely convinced by these results.

Sometimes a few inches of sleeping distance is necessary because it's sweltering hot (hello, Australian summer) and the overhead fan has broken. Or because you're married to a snore r, or a sleep talker, or a night terror sufferer, and you'd rather not have that happening right in your ear.

Or you just, you know, enjoy a bit of personal space. But you still love them just the same in the morning, right?

How do you sleep with your partner? Do these findings seem accurate to you?