Is Your Computer Causing Relationship Stress?

As Valentine’s Day Approaches, New Survey Indicates 41% of Adults That Are Married/or in a Relationship Think Time Spent by Themselves or Significant Other On the Computer is a Cause of Stress in their Relationship

BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As Americans get set to express their love with flowers, candy and expensive dinners this February, new research commissioned by Crucial.com provides greater insight into the effect that computers are having on relationships.

“A computer’s performance can increase or lower stress in a relationship. We’re living in a world where most people spend more time with a computer on a daily basis than they do with their spouse or significant other.”

The nationwide survey*, conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Crucial.com, revealed that 41% of surveyed U.S. adults who are married/in a relationship and have a computer, say that time spent on the computer (either by them or their spouse/significant other) is a source of stress in their relationship. 59% cited work-related issues as causing relationship strain and 75% indicated that finances were a cause of stress in their relationship.

Said Dr. John Gray, relationship expert and author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, “A computer’s performance can increase or lower stress in a relationship. We’re living in a world where most people spend more time with a computer on a daily basis than they do with their spouse or significant other.”

In particular, the survey also revealed that nearly one-quarter (23%) of surveyed men and women who are married/in a relationship said that they believe that their spouse or significant other spends too much time on the computer. Moreover, women are more frequently frustrated by their computer’s performance as more than one-quarter (27%) of surveyed women (ages 35-44) who are married/in a relationship indicated that their computer has caused frustration and/or stress more frequently than has their spouse/significant other over the past 6 months.

“These findings are fascinating because of the changing dynamic between people and their computers,” added Dr. Gray. “I have a lot of couples coming to me about issues that cause tension in their relationships—of course, finances and job stress are the usual suspects, but I am also hearing more concern about time spent on the computer.”

Additionally, 21% of surveyed U.S. adults who are married/in a relationship and have a computer indicate that computer problems (e.g. slowness, crashes, freezing) are generally more stressful than an argument with their spouse/significant other.

“It is interesting that both human relationships and computers are similar in that they are both capable of prompting strong, passionate feelings and emotions when things are not going as we like, or expect,” says Roddy McLean, marketing director, Crucial.com. “Unlike our relationships with others, often times improving the relationship we have with our computers is as simple as restoring lost performance with a do-it-yourself memory upgrade.”

Founded on the concept of making upgrades easy for the everyday computer user, Crucial.com has been serving customers for nearly 15 years, while providing the knowledge and tools needed to select and purchase the right computer memory upgrade. Just go to Crucial.com and run the Crucial® System Scanner tool to find the right memory upgrade options that will improve system performance and extend the life of an existing computer.

“Are Computers Breaking Our Hearts” infographic is available by visiting the Crucial.com media center.

Visit www.crucial.com for more information, follow Crucial on Twitter at @CrucialMemory, “LIKE” Crucial at www.facebook.com/CrucialMemory, and subscribe to helpful videos at www.youtube.com/crucialmemory.

*Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Crucial.com from November 30 - December 4, 2012 among 2,691 adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Will Ostedt at [e-mail].

About Crucial.com

Crucial.com is a leading online retailer specializing in computer memory (RAM) and solid state drives (SSDs), and is operated by a subsidiary of Micron Technology, Inc., one of the world's leading manufacturers of computer memory products. Crucial.com offers more than 250,000 compatible products for nearly every computer system: home and business, old and new, PC and Mac® computers. Utilizing a suite of easy-to-use, free online tools, including the Crucial® System Scanner and the Crucial Memory Advisor™ tool, Crucial.com makes it easy to find a compatible upgrade to improve computer performance and restore system reliability. For more information, visit www.crucial.com.

About Micron

Micron Technology, Inc. is one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Through its worldwide operations, Micron manufactures and markets a full range of DRAM, NAND and NOR flash memory, as well as other innovative memory technologies, packaging solutions and semiconductor systems for use in leading-edge computing, consumer, networking, embedded and mobile products. Micron's common stock is traded on the NASDAQ under the MU symbol. To learn more about Micron Technology, Inc., visit www.micron.com.

©2013 Micron Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Information is subject to change without notice. Crucial, the Crucial logo, and Memory Advisor are trademarks of Micron Technology, Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.