A recent survey in America has looked at the impact the recession has had on marriage, and whether it has influenced the decision to seek a divorce.
The research, which was sponsored by the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, has found that the recession has had both a positive and negative effect on relationships. While 29% of couples reported that their marriage had suffered because of financial stresses brought about by the downturn, another 29% said that the recession led them to deepen their commitment to their marriages.
About 5% of respondents said they had been considering divorce or separation prior to the recession, however 38% of these said that since the recession they have worked harder at saving their marriage. These figures are consistent with the fact that divorce rates have fallen across America since the start of the recession.
