The number of couples using the services of a Catholic counselling service who reported that internet use was causing problems with their relationship has increased by 87.5 per cent in the last two years.
Publishing figures for 2009, Accord said the number of couples reporting financial problems was up by 71 per cent. The three areas listed by clients as being most problematic in their relationships are communication, stress and sexual intimacy.
Rates of depression and stress in clients are up 14 per cent and 12 per cent respectively, Accord said.
Ruth Barror, national director of Accord, said there was an 11 per cent increase in the number of counselling hours provided last year, bringing the number of counselling sessions provided to over 40,000.
Ms Barror welcomed the recent publication by the Economic and Social Research Institute/Family Support Agency entitled Family Figures: Family Dynamics and Family Types in Ireland 1986 - 2006.
She said the changes described in this report were also borne out by the experience of Accord through its work as marriage education and counselling providers.
“The report's findings are consistent with the experience of Accord in that religion, nationality and ethnicity have more to do with influencing family structure than educational attainment and occupation.”
She said the agency had already noted the finding in the ESRI report that the birth of the first child can be a pressure on couples. Accord is completing a review of its marriage preparation programme, with a particular focus on the module for parenting.
Accord, a voluntary agency of the Catholic Church, will mark 40 years of service in Ireland tomorrow. Some 200 Accord members will meet in Maynooth to celebrate the event.