Credit crunch taking toll on couples Down Under

Sydney, Oct 14 : With the whole world facing credit crisis, a new survey has shown that the financial concerns are taking a heavy toll on couples Down Under.

Relationships Australia's annual Relationships Indicators Survey has found that due to financial pressures, relationships between couples are on a downswing.

In fact, a large number of people have said that financial problems are a major stress, which has more than doubled in two years.

Conducted on 1,200 adults, the survey has found that 40 per cent of people have voted money troubles as a major pressure on their relationship.

The same figure stood at just 18 percent in 2006.

It seems that women get more bugged by money matters than men, said Relationships Australia Vice President Anne Hollonds.

"While 37 per cent of women rate financial woes as a cause of relationship splits involving them or people around them, only 30 per cent of men express the same view," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Hollonds, as saying.

However, unmarried people seem to be less concerned about money crisis as a major issue, with only 28 per cent saying it was a concern. Of those in spousal or de facto relationships, 38 per cent listed it as a major stress.

But it wasn't just money that was playing a foe amongst couples-the survey found that 55 per cent couples said different goals and expectations were a problem, while 53 per cent were worried about lack of time spent together.

Stress was the biggest strain on relationships, with 68 per cent nominating it as a negative factor.

ANI