Couples' needs studied | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

New research has been launched into the impact of the Canterbury earthquakes on couple's relationships after counselling experts revealed a two-fold spike in business.  

Christchurch couples have been invited to take part in the wide-ranging investigation that look at how the stress of the quakes have impacted on their lives and the quality of their relationship.  

The researcher behind the ambitious project wants to gauge the pulse of the city in the wake of the shakes, saying that the plight of couples has been "ignored" by previous research.  

Emma Marshall, a post-graduate psychology student at Canterbury University, hopes that the study will guide governments, organisations, and counsellors across the world in assisting stressed couples to deal with life after natural disasters.  

"We are specifically looking at the stress the Canterbury earthquakes have brought to couples' relationships," she said.  

"Everyone is stressed out by the earthquakes to some extent, but some people are finding it a lot harder to cope with, and we do think that will impact on their relationships.   "How people respond to a disaster is quite complicated. I believe it's essential we get the research of how people, especially couples, respond and react to natural disasters, and how they want or need help, so we can shape our interventions after a disaster.   

"We hope this research will result in a clear approach to tackle couples' needs post-disaster."  

Ms Marshall, who has received approval and backing from the university's Human Ethics Committee, has already enlisted 52 couples for her study, but is aiming to enrol at least another 100 participants.   

Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga Canterbury clinical leader, Pablo Godoy said more than 12,000 people have received counselling since last September's earthquake.   

Mr Godoy welcomed the study, saying its results could prove helpful in dealing with couples in the future. He said: "Since February our services have been accessed 100 per cent more than over the previous year. We've done specifically earthquake-related counselling for about 12,000 people since the September quake. 

"Because of the nature of the earthquakes and the subsequent consequences and stresses that come with it, it is placing extra pressures on relationships.  

"Relationships are an ongoing commitment that needs work to resolve issues and it makes it that much more difficult to do that in the context of post-earthquakes. It is harder to work through things when you're under great pressures or stress.   

"We are obviously experiencing the results on the ground but research helps give us a broader understanding of what is happening in order to better plan for the future."  

Ms Marshall, who is being supervised by Dr Roeline Kuijer, senior psychology lecturer at Canterbury University, said that previous studies have ignored the impact of natural disasters on the lives of couples. Now, she hopes to redress that balance.  

She said: "There is a massive gap in couples research. It seems quite odd to me because couples are so important - we are so dependant on our partners, how they react to things, and what they do impacts on what we do.   

"The interest so far has been very encouraging - people see it as a very important study.    "What has come through a lot when talking to people is there is a resilience there, and we want to find out what those couples are doing so well so that can help couples who are struggling."