Household composition, couples’ relationship quality, and social support during lockdown

While the majority of respondents reported that their household compositionhad remained stable, any reported change in living arrangements differedsubstantially across the cohorts. About two-fifths of 19-year-olds, who wereliving independently of their parents prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, moved inwith their parents (or parents-in-law).• Nearly one-fifth of the youngest generation reported more conflict with peoplearound them since the outbreak whereas the vast majority (90% or more) ofthe older generations reported either no change or less conflict. A change inhousehold composition appeared to be related to raised levels of conflict.• The age 19 cohort was the least likely to be in a romantic relationship and ifthey were, they had the lowest relationship satisfaction.• The youngest generations, those from the age 30 and age 19 cohorts, had thehighest frequency of reporting more arguments with their partner since beforethe pandemic. Moreover, more women than men reported an increase inarguments since the start of the pandemic. For the age 62 cohort, inparticular, more relationship conflict was reported if they also experiencedchanges in household composition, compared with cohort members who hadstability in their household arrangements.• Most respondents reported a great deal of perceived social support if theywere sick or needed someone to talk to about their problems. Cohortmembers who were not in a relationship, and particularly among the age 62cohort, had the least emotional support compared to their peers who were inrelationships, irrespective of cohabitation status