One in eight relationships under strain due to coronavirus lockdown, research finds
A new study has found that one in eight people are re-evaluating their relationships during the coronavirus lockdown.
This jumps even higher - to 21% - in people aged 25 to 34, according to relationship charity, Relate.
The survey found that almost one quarter of men are finding their partners frustrating at the moment, while 31% of women were struggling with theirs.
This is in addition to a quarter of couples admitting that they are arguing more than normal during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Money problems have had a significant impact on the amount of arguments couples have had.
Many people have found themselves with less money than usual or have been furloughed by their employer.
The strain on parents - when it comes to homeschooling - has also created animosity between couples. Whether it’s in relation to the behaviour of their children during lockdown, or trying to create a structure with homeschooling, this is clearly proving tough for couples.
“We always see a peak in people seeking relationship support after Christmas, when spending unusually long together brings issues to the surface.” Aidan Jones, chief executive of Relate, said.
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“Add to that the current extended period of isolation, worries about job security, finances, how to juggle work with childcare and uncertainty about the future - and it's clear why we're expecting a post-lockdown relationship reckoning.”
He encouraged couples who were struggling during this period to consider couples counselling which can be done over the phone or virtually.
“Everyone's trying their best to get through whilst stuck under one roof but that door won't stay closed forever, which is why we're urging anyone experiencing issues to get in touch now rather than letting things fester until things get irreparably bad.”
Despite some negative figures, 65% of people have said that they’ve felt supported by their partners during this time. 34% believed that being in quarantine had brought them closer together.
These figures should be seen as encouraging amidst levels of domestic violence rising during this period.
Domestic abuse helpline, Refuge, has seen as 25% rise in calls, while domestic violence app, Holly Guard, has seen a 30% increase in alerts.
Fortunately, there is a lot of support out there for people who are going through domestic abuse while in lockdown.
