研究：英国1/5夫妻关系在疫情封锁期间有所改善

英国婚姻基金会最近开展的一项研究表明，英国五分之一夫妻关系在疫情封锁期间有所改善，打算离婚的夫妻比例减少了三分之二，这让“封锁导致离婚潮”的说法不攻自破。

One in five of marriages in the UK have benefited from the national lockdown, research has revealed.

一项研究表明，英国五分之一夫妻关系在疫情封锁期间有所改善。

A study carried out by the Marriage Foundation found 20 percent of married couples felt their relationship had strengthened while only nine percent said theirs had worsened during the pandemic.

英国婚姻基金会开展的这项研究发现，20%的已婚夫妇认为他们的关系得以改善，只有9%的人表示夫妻关系在疫情期间恶化了。

During their research, the national charity analysed data from 2,559 couples who had completed a questionnaire by the University of Essex for the UK Household Longitudinal Survey Coronavirus study.

该全国性慈善机构在研究中分析了2559位夫妇的数据，他们都完成了埃塞克斯大学为英国新冠病毒研究家庭纵向调查所设计的调查问卷。

They found twice as many marriages had improved during the coronavirus crisis while the proportion of couples considering divorce fell by two thirds from those seen before the pandemic in 2017- 2019.

研究人员发现，相较于2017年到2019年而言，在新冠疫情危机期间，关系更好的夫妻比例增加了一倍，打算离婚的夫妻比例减少了三分之二。

Harry Benson, the Marriage Foundation's Research Director and one of the report's authors said: 'Our study debunks claims that lockdown is leading to a divorce boom.

英国婚姻基金会研究主任、报告的作者之一哈利·本森说：“我们的研究让‘封锁导致离婚潮’的说法不攻自破。”

debunk [diːˈbʌŋk]：vt. 揭穿；暴露

'The data strongly suggests the opposite – spending more time with your husband or wife has been beneficial for large numbers of the UK's 12.8 million married couples.

“数据有力地表明，事实正好相反，对于英国1280万对夫妻中的大部分人来说，花更多时间和另一半相处益处良多。”

'These findings for UK marriages are further strengthened when set alongside a similar recent analysis of US marriages.

“与最近对美国婚姻的类似分析结果相结合，上述有关英国婚姻的发现得到了进一步的证实。”

'Analysis of a national survey last week found half of married adults said their appreciation of their partner had increased and commitment had deepened.

“上周进行的一项全国性调查分析发现，半数已婚人士称，他们更加欣赏自己的伴侣，对伴侣的承诺也更坚定。”

Researchers also found that 0.7 percent of married men and 2.2 percent of women were considering divorce - reflecting a decrease by two thirds compared to pre-Covid times.

研究人员还发现，0.7%的已婚男性和2.2%的已婚女性正在考虑离婚。与疫情前相比，考虑离婚的人数比例下降了三分之二。

However research also showed lockdown has 'caused friction in some marriages', with more married men saying they were 'fairly' or 'extremely unhappy'.

然而，研究也显示，封锁“使一些夫妻之间产生了摩擦”，更多的已婚男性表示他们“相当”或“非常不快乐”。

Meanwhile 22 percent of cohabiting mothers said their relationship had worsened during the pandemic compared to 7 percent of married mothers.

与此同时，22%的同居母亲表示，她们与伴侣的关系在疫情期间恶化了，而在已婚母亲中这一比例为7%。

Mr Benson continued: 'Although stress levels in parental relationships have risen with so much uncertainty about jobs, money, and being unable to go out or socialise, lockdown appears to have affirmed the commitment of married couples.

本森先生继续说道：“尽管由于工作、金钱的不确定性，以及不能外出或社交，夫妻相处时压力大增，但封锁似乎坚定了已婚夫妻彼此间的承诺。”

'In short many seem to have found spending more time with the partner has been a positive experience.'

“简而言之，许多人似乎发现与伴侣共度更多时光是一种积极的体验。”

Sir Paul Coleridge, founder of the Marriage Foundation said: 'Covid has spawned a plethora of inaccurate predictions and a divorce explosion was just one such.

英国婚姻基金会的创始人保罗·科尔里奇爵士说：“新冠疫情导致了很多不准确的预测，‘离婚大爆炸’只是其中之一。”

spawn[spɔːn]：v. 酿成，造成

a plethora of：大量的，过多的

'In fact, as with so many other areas of life under covid, the law of unintended consequences has ruled the day.

“事实上，就像疫情之下的其他生活领域一样，非预期后果法则主导了今天的生活。”

'On the whole marriages have blossomed through lockdown, no doubt because of the extra TLC spouses have been able to invest in their relationships freed from the terrible pressures generated by having to spend a lot of the working week at, or travelling to and from work.

“整体来看，婚姻关系确实通过‘封锁’得以改善，毫无疑问，这是因为人们从繁忙的工作和通勤导致的压力中解脱出来，有了额外的时间和精力为婚姻关系加码。”

TLC：温暖的关怀；tender loving care的缩写（非正式）

'This is all of a piece with earlier Marriage Foundation research which showed clearly that couples who make extra investment in their marriages – eg via occasional date nights – benefit from a more enduring and satisfying relationship.

“这些都与英国婚姻基金会之前的研究结果一致。此前的研究结果清楚地表明，那些在婚姻中进行额外投资的夫妇（比如偶尔有个约会之夜）会受益于更持久、更令人满意的婚姻关系。”

all of a piece with：与……一致

'Unexpectedly this new finding has not impacted unmarried couples in the same way.

“出乎意料的是，新的研究结论在未婚情侣群体中完全得不到验证。”

'When these relationships have been stress-tested by the covid lockdown the women especially have suffered.

“当未婚情侣关系经过疫情封锁的压力测试时，女性受到的影响尤其大。”

'No doubt the absence of formal commitment has generated insecurity and ambiguity at a time when the need for complete unambiguous unity was essential.'

“毫无疑问，在这个需要完全明确的团结一致的时刻，没有正式的承诺会让彼此缺乏安全感，变得犹豫不决”。