Survey reveals lasting impact of COVID-19 on relationships
As the UK marks the five-year anniversary of its first COVID-19 lockdown, Counselling Directory has surveyed therapists listed on its website to explore the pandemic's latest impact on relationships.
Counselling Directory, which lists more than 30,000 mental health professionals – including counsellors, therapists, and psychotherapists – received responses from 118 therapists for this survey. The findings reveal how friendships, romantic relationships, and connections have been affected in the years following the pandemic.
Friendships and new connections
The survey found that:
- 67% of therapists reported an increase in clients struggling to make or maintain friendships post-pandemic.
- 32% said clients have become more hesitant and cautious about dating and forming new relationships.
- In contrast, 21% noted that some clients have become more eager to connect with others after the pandemic, perhaps reflecting a desire to rebuild social bonds.
Romantic relationships under strain
When asked about the pressures and challenges affecting romantic relationships, therapists highlighted several key issues:
- 75% cited communication problems as a primary strain.
- 70% pointed to work stress and burnout affecting couples.
- 63% listed money and financial struggles as a common source of tension.
- 43% reported intimacy and sexual issues among couples.
- 35% noted parenting-related conflicts.
- 30% said trust issues, including infidelity, were being frequently reported.
“The pandemic removed the natural external spaces between relationships which can act as distractions as well as ‘buffer cushions’ so to speak between relationships - work, school, socialising - exacerbating existing issues not dealt with or have manifested deeper over a long period of time.
“Healthy relationships require both connection and autonomy; if you think of the analogy of being in a loving marriage, having separate bedrooms can be a healthy choice for both people to get space at night and better quality sleep. The loss of these natural boundaries outside the home led to emotional overwhelm.
“I had a client share with me that “preparing to come to therapy, so the act of getting ready and driving to my counselling room, had been robbed from her during lockdown and therefore she had no personal space and time away to process everything for herself away from her family”. Without that space, tensions intensified, heightening stress responses in the brain and nervous system, making relational difficulties more pronounced because of everyone ‘being’ in each other’s personal space all the time.”
Counselling Directory member and Psychotherapist Tina Chummun
Would you like further comments or expert insights on the topic of relationships? Please reach out to our PR Manager Alice Greedus on alice.greedus@counselling-directory.org.uk
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