Spike in relationship problems in Canada due to inflation: Expert

An expert says many Canadians are going through relationship issues, much of them driven by rising inflation amid an ongoing pandemic.

Relationship coach Natasha Wiebe says relationships are based on confidence and trust. But Wiebe notes couple confidence has been badly shaken, due to financial constraints, setting priorities, and COVID-19 uncertainty.

“Whether that’s housing costs, energy, or gas prices, it creates financial instability, which also affects people’s confidence,” Wiebe said. “So there’s this huge spike because people don’t feel safe, so they are more easily reactive. And they aren’t acting from an actual creative solution problem space, they’re acting out of survival.”

Wiebe deals with clients of all ages, sex, and societal groups. She says all these financial pressures are forcing people to overlook self care, which can be detrimental in caring for a relationship.

The current state of the world and how it’s affecting relationships is something many Calgarians have noticed.

“I’ve been dumped twice during COVID inflation … it’s very hard to meet people. It’s very hard to keep relationships going,” said Robin, a Calgary resident.

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On the other hand, Calgary student Shaurya says they haven’t noticed much of a difference. “People who want to date, they are dating anyways. It doesn’t make a difference, if it’s COVID or inflation or whatever. Who wants to spend, they are their spending.”

Another youngster, Emma, says she feels COVID has changed many people.

“I find COVID really just made people a lot more antisocial, and that really affected a lot of relationships, and people’s ability to be vulnerable in public,” she said.

Seeing the trend of relationships and how brief many are lasting, Wiebe says she feels more and more relationships are being nurtured for convenience and companionship rather than true love.

“Staying in that relationship out of necessity, not so much because of actual desire. So, that I would say is a huge thing happening in Canada right now,” Wiebe said. “I think a lot of people are moving to Calgary, because Calgary is still one of the most affordable big cities, instead of Vancouver, or Toronto, Montreal even.”