Recession causing more family rows

Dry cleaner firm Johnson's running costs have come down

One in four families in the UK is arguing more because of the recession, new figures have suggested.

The study also showed men were twice as likely as women to be concerned that money worries would cause them to break up with their partner and one in five couples said they were arguing more because of money worries.

Relate, the largest provider of relationship counselling and sex therapy in the UK, said relationships were being squeezed by outside pressures and urged couples to talk about any problems.

More than 2,000 adults were involved in the research carried out by YouGov earlier this month and 25% of families admitted to arguing more because of the recession.

Claire Tyler, Relate's chief executive, said: "These figures confirm what we have been seeing in our centres that financial worries can have a big impact on family life.

"Families need to know that talking can help, in fact talking sooner rather than when things get to a crisis point can save families a lot of heartache.

"Relate is helping many couples and families who are finding that money worries are the final straw."

Novelist Roopa Farooki, a Relate ambassador for family counselling, added: "Couples and families, my own included, have been forced to adapt quickly to the economic crisis; living on a reduced income is a reality for many, and can be a cause of conflict, we feel pressure to provide and guilt if we cannot.

"Change is stressful for both parents and children, and one of the first ways to manage this is for families to talk openly about their concerns."