Valentine's Bliss Outweighs Dread

Unsure what to get your sweetheart this Valentine's Day? Nothing is the wrong answer.

An Associated Press-WE tv survey found only 17 percent of adults in committed relationships say they don't want a gift this Friday or are skipping the holiday.

Flowers and candy top the list of preferred gifts. But there are those who want something pricey like a car, jewelry or a vacation, and others who'd be fine with a teddy bear.

About a third say they'd most like to have intangibles such as time together, health or happiness.

Overall, the survey found that Cupid's arrow hits the target for most Americans.

Two-thirds of paired-off adults feel their relationships are perfect or nearly so. A scant 3 percent think their partnerships have serious problems.

All told, 68 percent of Americans are in committed relationships of some kind, and 11 percent aren't currently coupled but would like to be. Seventeen percent say they aren't seeking a relationship.

In this love-struck society, Valentine's Day holds strong appeal. About 6 in 10 say they're excited about Feb. 14, while a third say they feel more dread about the approaching onslaught of candy, flowers and dimly lit restaurants. Apprehension isn't limited to the lonely: Even 11 percent of those who say they are in a great relationship dread Valentine's Day.

Contrary to stereotypes, men are just as excited as women about Valentine's Day. In a more expected finding, men are more likely than women to say they're hoping for sex as a gift Friday (10 percent among men, 1 percent among women). Women are more apt to wish for flowers (19 percent vs. 1 percent among men). The survey found no significant gender differences on jewelry, chocolate or teddy bears.

A notable generational divide emerged on the gift front: Americans age 65 or older are more likely to say they'd like a card or note this Valentine's Day (17 percent of seniors want a card; just 1 percent under age 30 say that's their gift of choice). Perhaps there's a lesson for the young: Seniors are also most apt to say their relationships are perfect and to see time spent with their partner as a key benefit of their relationship.

The poll, conducted by GfK Public Affairs and Corporate Communications, also explored how Americans find partners and how they prioritize pairing off vs. other life goals.

For the 11 percent of Americans currently trying to find a committed relationship, there are all kinds of tools available to help. But traditional methods — asking out someone you know or having friends set you up on a date — outpace technological ones. Forty-one percent have used an online dating service, while 19 percent have tried an app that connects them to people nearby.

Overall, about half of adults say getting married or finding a romantic partner are important life goals, while more than two-thirds consider saving for retirement, owning a home or success in a career their most important or a very important goal.