The lockdown measures introduced to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have kept people confined with certain loved ones for months while preventing them from seeing others. Canvas8 spoke to 17 Britons and Americans to find out how this period of self-isolation has impacted their relationships.

From snoring to arguments over the AC, sharing a bed isn't always romantic. And as people place more value on sleep for their health and well-being, couples are questioning the necessity of the traditional marital bed, giving rise to an increase in ‘sleep divorces’.

Since lockdown started, people have been trying to cope with fluctuating anxiety levels. But research from the ONS has found that certain groups are disproportionately affected by ongoing disruption, with couples and those in civil partnerships reporting higher anxiety levels than singletons.

For many couples, lockdown has put a strain on their relationship – almost half of Americans say it’s been tricky to keep the spark alive. Canvas8 spoke to Ximena Garcia-Rada, doctoral candidate at Harvard Business School, to learn how relationship rituals can act as powerful commitment tools.