Story highlights Study shows long-distance couples benefit from more constant communication

Local partners should talk on a deeper level, not just about daily life

One short and sweet text or email per day can forge a stronger bond

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(upwave) Surprising the heck out of pretty much everyone, "absence makes the heart grow fonder" has been scientifically proven to be true -- but not for the reason our grandmas may have believed.

According to a recent study, all that time long-distance couples spend IMing, texting, video chatting and emailing really does help them forge a stronger connection. Partners who live in the same place could learn a thing or two, in fact.

"Long-distance couples try harder than geographically close couples in communicating affection and intimacy, and their efforts do pay back," says Crystal Jiang, Ph.D., coauthor of the 2013 study, which appeared in the Journal of Communication . "People in long-distance relationships often have stronger bonds from more constant, and deeper, communication than normal relationships."

We dove into the nitty-gritty research details so you can apply the secrets of long-distance relationships to your own local love affair, and have the best of both worlds: a strong relationship with a partner you can hug without first reserving a window seat. If you're lucky enough to live near your sweetie, a little energy directed towards creating closeness can result in big rewards. Here's how to make it so.

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