Dimensions
Presence Ratio
The proportion of shared time in which both partners are giving mutual attention, as opposed to coexisting in parallel.
Definition
Presence Ratio is the fraction of together-time in which both partners are actually with each other. Parallel coexistence (both in the same room, both on phones, no mutual attention) does not count. A Presence Ratio of 0.3 means that thirty percent of shared time involved genuine mutual attention.
How it is measured
Computed from device-free interaction windows, active-listening markers, and conversation reciprocity balance. The value is reported as a unit ratio between 0 and 1.0. Aggregate reports use the median across the consented cohort.
Why it matters
Presence Ratio separates couples who spend time together from couples who spend time near each other. The two are not the same. The first builds connection. The second simulates it.
Related terms
The Pulse Index
A composite measure of relationship health across a population, computed from continuous behavioral signal rather than self-report.
Drift Score
The rate at which two partners are emotionally distancing from each other, computed from engagement decay and attention markers.
Rhythm Consistency
How reliably a couple maintains their connective rituals across time, including across periods of stress, travel, or disruption.
Cite this entry
Love Pulse Labs. (2026). Presence Ratio. The Lexicon. https://lovepulselabs.com/lexicon/presence-ratio
Definition v1.0. First published May 13, 2026.