Short days, miserable weather and a lack of cash.

It's no wonder January is the worst month for couples.

Average Brits argue rise to an average of eight minutes a day during the month - and two thirds have broken up with a lover at the start of the year, research has revealed.

The January blues means people spend 15 hours a day at home - causing 'cabin fever'.

If they are strong enough to stick at it couples will waste four hours in the month fighting - but for some the idea of the tough month was so bad they broke up as part of a New Years resolution.

Behavioural Psychologist Donna Dawson said: 'Cabin Fever is a real phenomenon that takes place during the dark winter months, particularly January.

'The lack of sunlight can make us feel lethargic and depressed, and the lack of exercise and the fact that we are cooped up in a stuffy, centrally-heated house can make us feel edgy, irritable and stressed.

'Add boredom to the mix, alongside any financial issues and too much empty time with our partners, and you have the perfect recipe for arguments and consequent break-ups.'

The study of over 1,000 Brits by Sheilas’ Wheels home insurance found that long hours at home result in 20 arguments with their other halves during the month.

Compared with the 14 hours and 48 minutes a day in January that they spend cooped up during the summer months people spend just ten hours and five minutes at home and couple have just 16 arguments.

Over two thirds of Brits blamed the weather for wanting to spend more time indoors, while 65 percent said it was the lack of daylight and a third said they were tightening their belts after Christmas.

The January blues struck 38 percent with under 25s being the worst hit at 48 percent and almost half of Brits said January was the most depressing month of the year.

(Read by Lee Hannon. Lee Hannon is a journalist at the China Daily Website.)

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(Agencies)