Women stuck in rocky relationships are more likely to suffer depression, which in turn can lead to a condition making them ripe for heart disease, stroke and diabetes, according to University of Utah researchers.

By contrast, bad relationships affect men's mental health, but that doesn't translate into heart health the same way it does with women, these researchers said.

The bleak yearend sale suffered by retailers is expected to extend to Valentine's Day. A survey by the National Retail Federation said most of couples will probably spend less than $20 each as they celebrate love day on Saturday.

The NRF estimate is that average spending for Valentine's Day will be at $102.50 or a 15.6 percent decline compared to 2008.

The current global financial crisis is also taking its toll on property division among divorcing couples. On Wednesday the Ontario Court of Appeals ruled that judges handling divorce cases must take into account the declining value of assets caused by dipping property values and stocks when computing for property division.

The case arose from a 2007 decision that mandated Harold Serra to give his former wife Barbara $4.1 million as equalization payment. Serra pointed out to the court from their separation to the trial, the estimated value of his textile business dropped by $8 million to $9 million to just $1.8 million to $2.6 million. If he would pay Barbara the entire amount, it would be over his net worth.

Britain's chief environmental adviser said the climate could no longer sustain couples having more than two children. John Porritt, who chairs the UK government's Sustainable Development Commission, told a British newspaper that parents having three or more children are "irresponsible," and that the government should spend money on family planning, abortion and contraception programs to curb the country's population growth. "I am unapologetic about asking people to connect their own responsibility for their total environmental footprint and how they decide to procreate and how many children they think are appropriate," he said. "I think we will work our way towards a position that says having more than two children is irresponsible," he added. A report on the topic will go to the government next month. Porritt also chastised other environmental groups for not making the same connection between population control and environmental responsibility. Porritt's comments outraged anti-abortion groups and conservative politicians, who compared his views to those held by the communist Chinese government. One group said such policies end up favoring male children and often result in increased infanticide rates. Britain's population of 61 million is expected to exceed 70 million people by 2028, due largely to increased birth rates among immigrants and high teen pregnancy rates.

The yearly British Social Attitudes survey released Tuesday showed young Britons have a low regard for marriage. According to the report, less than 40 percent of Britons ages 18 to 34 view marriage as the best kind of relationship. Elderly Britons, or 80 percent of pensioners share the same view.

The disparity in way of thinking between young and old Britons were also shown in their opinion regarding working mothers. British youth are likely to support the belief that women should start to look for a full-time job after their children begin going to school, while only half of Britons aged 65 and above shared the same belief.