The amount of time people spend online is causing difficulties in relationships, the Catholic marriage care service Accord has said.
Financial pressures are also leading more couples to seek counselling, new statistics from the organisation show.
The number of clients identifying finances as an issue affecting their marriage rose from just 20 per cent for all of 2007 to 31 per cent for the first six months of 2009.
Marital difficulties related to internet use have grown substantially, with 7 per cent of clients citing it as their primary relationship problem in the first half of 2009.
“The key areas which are causing conflict are internet gambling, infidelity and one partner spending too much time online rather than with their spouse and family,” said John Farrelly, director of counselling with Accord.
