Study: 1 in 5 UK couples’ relationships improved during lockdown

A recent study by the British Marriage Foundation showed that one-fifth of couples' relationships in the UK improved during the epidemic lockdown, and the proportion of couples planning to divorce fell by two-thirds, giving credence to the notion that lockdowns caused a divorce wave. The attack breaks itself.

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One in five of marriages in the UK have benefited from the national lockdown, research has revealed.

One in five UK couples' relationships have improved during lockdown, a study has revealed.

A study carried out by the Marriage Foundation found 20 percent of married couples felt their relationship had strengthened while only nine percent said theirs had worsened during the pandemic.

The study by the British Marriage Foundation found that 20% of married couples believed their relationship had improved, while only 9% said it had worsened during the pandemic.

During their research, the national charity analyzed data from 2,559 couples who had completed a questionnaire by the University of Essex for the UK Household Longitudinal Survey Coronavirus Study.

The national charity analyzed data from 2,559 couples who completed a questionnaire designed by the University of Essex for the UK Coronavirus Study Household Longitudinal Survey.

They found twice as many marriages had improved during the coronavirus crisis while the proportion of couples considering divorce fell by two thirds from those seen before the pandemic in 2017- 2019.

Researchers found that during the COVID-19 crisis, the proportion of couples in better relationships doubled and the proportion of couples planning to divorce fell by two-thirds during the COVID-19 crisis compared with 2017 to 2019.

Harry Benson, the Marriage Foundation's Research Director and one of the report's authors said: 'Our study debunks claims that lockdown is leading to a divorce boom.

Harry Benson, director of research at the British Marriage Foundation and one of the report's authors, said: "Our research undermines the idea that lockdowns are causing a divorce wave."

debunk [diːˈbʌŋk]: vt. to expose; to expose

'The data strongly suggests the opposite – spending more time with your husband or wife has been beneficial for large numbers of the UK's 12.8 million married couples.

"The data strongly suggests that the opposite is true, and that for the majority of the UK's 12.8 million couples, spending more time with their partner has significant benefits."

'These findings for UK marriages are further strengthened when set alongside a similar recent analysis of US marriages.

"Combined with the results of a similar recent analysis of US marriages, these findings about UK marriages are further corroborated."

'Analysis of a national survey last week found half of married adults said their appreciation of their partner had increased and commitment had deepened.

"An analysis of national surveys conducted last week found that half of married people say they appreciate their partner more and are more committed to their partner."

Researchers also found that 0.7 percent of married men and 2.2 percent of women were considering divorce - reflecting a decrease by two thirds compared to pre-Covid times.

The researchers also found that 0.7% of married men and 2.2% of married women were considering divorce. Compared with before the epidemic, the proportion of people considering divorce has dropped by two-thirds.

However research also showed lockdown has 'caused friction in some marriages', with more married men saying they were 'fairly' or 'extremely unhappy'.

However, the study also showed that lockdown had "created friction between some couples", with more married men saying they were "fairly" or "very unhappy".

Meanwhile 22 percent of cohabiting mothers said their relationship had worsened during the pandemic compared to 7 percent of married mothers.

Meanwhile, 22% of cohabiting mothers said their relationship with their partner had worsened during the pandemic, compared with 7% of married mothers.

Mr Benson continued: 'Although stress levels in parental relationships have risen with so much uncertainty about jobs, money, and being unable to go out or socialise, lockdown appears to have affirmed the commitment of married couples.

Mr Benson continued: “Lockdown appears to have strengthened married couples’ commitment to each other, despite the increased stress on couples due to uncertainty about work, money and not being able to go out or socialize.”

'In short many seem to have found spending more time with the partner has been a positive experience.'

"In short, many people seem to find spending more time with their partner a positive experience."

Sir Paul Coleridge, founder of the Marriage Foundation said: 'Covid has spawned a plethora of inaccurate predictions and a divorce explosion was just one such.

Sir Paul Coleridge, founder of the British Marriage Foundation, said: "The coronavirus pandemic has led to many inaccurate predictions, and the 'divorce explosion' is just one of them."

spawn[spɔːn]: v. to cause, to cause

a plethora of: a large amount, too much

'In fact, as with so many other areas of life under covid, the law of unintended consequences has ruled the day.

“In fact, like other areas of life under the epidemic, the law of unintended consequences governs life today.”

'On the whole marriages have blossomed through lockdown, no doubt because of the extra TLC spouses have been able to invest in their relationships freed from the terrible pressures generated by having to spend a lot of the working week at, or traveling to and from work .

"Overall, marital relationships have indeed improved through lockdown, no doubt because people are freed from the stress of busy jobs and commutes and have extra time and energy to invest in their relationships."

TLC: Tender caring; abbreviation of tender loving care (informal)

'This is all of a piece with earlier Marriage Foundation research which showed clearly that couples who make extra investment in their marriages – eg via occasional date nights – benefit from a more enduring and satisfying relationship.

"These are consistent with previous research from the British Marriage Foundation, which clearly shows that couples who make extra investments in their marriages - such as having an occasional date night - benefit from longer-lasting, more satisfying marital relationship."

all of a piece with: consistent with...

'Unexpectedly this new finding has not impacted unmarried couples in the same way.

"Unexpectedly, the new findings were completely untested among unmarried couples."

'When these relationships have been stress-tested by the covid lockdown the women especially have suffered.

“As unmarried relationships are put through the stress test of lockdown, women are disproportionately affected.”

'No doubt the absence of formal commitment has generated insecurity and ambiguity at a time when the need for complete unambiguous unity was essential.'

"There is no doubt that the absence of a formal commitment will make each other insecure and indecisive at a time when total unequivocal solidarity is needed."

English source: Daily Mail

Translated & edited by: yaning

Source: China Daily.com