Love, work and the lockdown. Partnership quality and intentions to split during the lockdown in Italy, France and Spain

This study contributes to the growing strand of research on the reper-cussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The home confinement imposed as part of nationwide movement restrictions in many countries represents an exceptional set-ting for the study of intimate relationships. Did the lockdown reduce partnership quality among couples? In this study, we present some descriptive findings based on an online survey conducted during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in France, Italy and Spain. Around 12% of those interviewed in the three countries reported that their relationship with their partner had worsened during the lock-down and about 2.5% intended to split up. In addition, we show that negative emotions – such as feeling lonely – and deterioration of income/work conditions are associated with a worsening of partnership quality. In all, we suggest that cou-ples and intimate relationships have been sensitive to the lockdown, at least in Italy, France, and Spain.