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AUSTRALIA 
Credit crunches romance
Tuesday, 14 October, 2008
Australian relationships are suffering under financial strain. (Getty)
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Financial pressures are having a major impact on people's relationships in Australia, with those saying it is a major stress more than doubling in two years, a study has shown.
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With the world currently gripped by economic instability, Relationships Australia's annual Relationships Indicators Survey has found financial concerns are taking a heavy toll.
The survey of 1,200 adults has found that 40 per cent list money troubles as a major pressure on their relationship, up from 18 per cent of people in 2006.
And women seem to be more concerned about money matters than men, Relationships Australia Vice President Anne Hollonds (Hollonds) said.
"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," Ms Hollonds said.
Those that haven't been married are less worried about money as a major relationship 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 finance wasn't the only issue for those surveyed by Relationships Australia, with 55 per cent saying different goals and expectations were a problem, while 53 per cent who 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.
Source: SBS Staff and agencies
