Success Isn’t the Only Drive a Slump Affects

Britain’s sex life has taken a dive along with the economy, marriage counselors say.

The number of couples complaining of a flagging sex life has increased sharply as financial worries and rising unemployment put many marriages under pressure, said Zelda West-Meads of Relate, a marriage counseling service.

“If someone is angry or depressed, they experience a loss of sexual desire,” West-Meads said.

Relate saw a 30% rise in couples seeking advice as the unemployment rate in Britain climbed to 9.2% in December from 6.5% a year earlier.

Men are more likely to lose their libido along with their job, Relate said. “For men, their jobs are tied up with their macho image,” one counselor commented.