Lockdown makes the heart grow fonder, study reveals

A QUARTER of adults in a relationship said it improved during the coronavirus lockdown, research has found.

Romantic relationships were more likely to get better than worse during the Covid-19 pandemic, while the majority stayed the same, according to the Open University.

Its survey, of 1,319 UK adults, found that around one in 10 respondents (one per cent) said their relationship had deteriorated between March and late July/ early August.

More quality time together, talking, emotional support and thoughtful gestures were commonly reported by the 26 per cent of respondents whose relationships improved.

Almost half (45 per cent) of men, and 36 per cent of women, reported helping more around the house – which could also have contributed.

The report, by Jacqui Gabb, professor of Sociology and Intimacy, said: “The UK lockdown enabled many parents to spend more time with their children.

“More co-parenting could improve relationships for women, who are usually the main carers of children (and indeed older relatives); whilst also putting other women’s relationships under more stress (for instance, when working from home whilst also homeschooling and looking after children).

“The changes and challenges that Covid-19 has placed on relationships could have been more likely to be ‘make-orbreak’ women’s shorter relationships: moving in together at short notice due to the lockdown, or not seeing each other, can worsen a relationship or prompt people to make more effort to maintain it.”

Dr Gabb, chief relationships officer at Paired, an app aiming to improve couples’ communication, said: “Communication is absolutely key when it comes to successful relationships.

“I have studied long-term couple relationships for years and I cannot stress enough how important it is to simply talk, to discuss feelings and not to brush issues under the carpet and let them fester – that is how small problems become huge points of contention.”