Technology has made infidelity easier, researchers were told during a nationwide study about the expectations and experiences of Maltese couples.
The qualitative research, by the National Centre for Family Research within the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, reveals that self-centred behaviour, financial struggles and the inability to communicate are chipping away at local relationships.
Among others, the research shines a light on technology as a growing risk factor for relationships, with many suggesting that technology has made infidelity easier because it creates more opportunities to meet others.
Others saw devices as hindering communication between partners.
“There is an increased and pervasive use of mobile devices, with individuals frequently checking in on social media and consequently not attending to those near them,” the report about the research notes.
However, others acknowledged that when partners were away from each other due to long working hours, mobile phones could be a means of “touching base”.
As soon as the first problem crops up for the couple, it’s goodbye
Meanwhile, participants consistently conveyed their perception that marriage was increasingly easily dissoluble in contemporary society. Many attributed the fragility of marriage to social and media influences, the changing view of commitment, work routines and socialisation, and the ease of legal separation or divorce.
One respondent said that today, people “live with a suitcase ready and as soon as the first problem crops up for the couple, it’s goodbye”.
The results published yesterday are a follow-up to a quantitative study published last year. Called Sustaining Relationships – Couples and Singles in a Changing Society, the previous study was carried out among 2,500 people.
Most respondents had reported satisfaction with their relationships, and this was particularly true for married respondents and those with adequate income.
Angela Abela, who chairs the National Centre for Family Research, said relationships were being strained by the standard of living expectations that were propelling many to work more, in turn eating away into limited quality time.
Mass media was also blamed for idealising images of romanticism and married life that did not match the couples’ lived experiences.
Prof. Abela said the findings should drive policymakers to prioritise evidence-based relationship education, and brought to the fore the importance of further developing family-friendly policies across the various segments of the labour market.