SWINDON, England, December 18 /PRNewswire/ -- With a whole host of decisions to make in the lead-up to Christmas, it seems that some of us are also going to use the festive season as a reason to end our relationships.

We have all read the traditional Divorce Day stories that fly off the presses as soon as we all head back to work in the New Year, but is it really true that this is the worst time of the year for splitting up?

http://Divorce-Online.Co.UK decided to find out the truth and commissioned a comprehensive survey to find out why.

Close to a quarter of UK adults agree that relationships with partners become more pressurized during the Christmas period. Women are more likely to take this view than men (26% vs. 22%). The residents of Bristol are also most likely to feel relationships with partner can become more pressurized during the Christmas period (35% vs. 16% in Birmingham and Cardiff)

Interestingly almost equal numbers of people believe money being tight and arguing over trivial things are reasons why relationships become more pressurized during the festive season (48% and 47%). Men are more likely than women to feel that relationships feeling the strain are because of too much pressure to buy perfect gifts (24% vs. 21%).

Almost two thirds of those surveyed agree that "a start to a new year can make people yearn for a change in their relationship" (64%). People who are separated or divorced are far more likely to agree with this statement (74% and 71% vs. 69% of single people)

16% of the UK's adults have experienced an argument with a partner during the festive season which made them contemplate splitting up, 9% have experience a relationship breakdown during Christmas and 8% have ignored the feeling of wanting to break up because it is Christmas

People who are divorced are most likely to feel that reasons for relationship break downs during the festive season is due to people arguing about trivial things (44%) and people having to spend time with a partners family who they may not like (43%). People who are separated are most likely to think that it is because it is a period to contemplate change (52%)

Over three quarters of the UK's adults agree that the stress of the recession is more likely to separate couples (78%). Separated and divorced people are more likely to take this view (87% and 87% vs. 78% of single people)

A third of people agree with the statement "A minor incident is more likely to end my relationship than a major one (32%)

Women are more likely than men to think the final straw in a relationship is a thoughtless Christmas or Birthday present (43% vs. 38%). Men are more likely to think that it is disagreeing about a TV programme (7% vs. 4%)

Notes to Editors:

About http://www.Divorce-Online.Co.UK

Founded in 1999, Divorce-Online is the UK leader in online divorce services and solutions that help people obtain an uncontested divorce without the need to visit a solicitor. Divorce-Online.Co.UK have helped over 60,000 couples achieve an amicable divorce.

About the research

Research for Divorce-Online was carried out by Opinion Matters between: 18/11/2009 and 24/11/2009

Sample: 1560 UK Adults

A copy of the survey in PowerPoint format is available by e-mail upon request.

    For more information contact:

    Mark Keenan
    +44(0)1793-600751
    +44(0)7921619770
    mark.keenan@divorce-online.co.uk

SOURCE Divorce-Online

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