Reports the Chilean segment of a multicultural, multicountry (Canada, Germa
ny, Israel, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, USA) study on long-term marr
iages. This pilot study is seen as a starting point in research focusing on
the childhood background and family history of long-term marital partners
in Chile. No statistically significant association between marital satisfac
tion and economic or educational level was found. A positive correlation wa
s found between marital satisfaction and happiness during childhood. Love,
trust, and loyalty appear to be the main ingredients of satisfaction for bo
th satisfied and unsatisfied couples. The findings across countries as to t
he essential ingredients reported here have been remarkably similar.