article: Many people might think that trust issues, long distances and cheating scandals are the biggest strains on a relationship. But they are wrong. It's IKEA. A psychology expert has confirmed that shopping at or assembling furniture from the Scandinavian store chain can be a serious source of friction between a couple, thanks to the high levels of stress caused by both activities. 'The store literally becomes a map of a relationship nightmare,' Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist in Santa Monica, California, told The Wall Street Journal. Scroll down for video . Can your relationship handle it? Experts say that shopping at IKEA can cause serious friction between couples - and assembling the store's wares makes it even worse . 'Walking through the kitchens brings up touchy subjects, like who does most of the cooking. Then you get to the children’s section, which opens up another set of issues. And that’s before you've even tried assembling anything,' she said. Ramani revealed that so many couples admitted to her that they were prone to fighting while assembling furniture, that she decided to include furniture assembly in her therapy sessions. And her couples are not alone; a report by CivicScience states that 17 per cent of couples confessed that they would argue every time they assembled furniture together, and therapists reported to WSJ that couples who are able to successfully assemble furniture together as a team actually have a healthier relationship. 'The Divorcemaker': This Liatorp home entertainment unit requires two people for assembly and involves putting together a large amount of shelving . Shopping for trouble: Clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula brings furniture assembly into therapy sessions after so many couples described fighting while putting together IKEA items . Getting into particulars, Ramani explained that the more complicated the assembly, the more likely your new IKEA buy will leave you and your partner at odds. She revealed that a smaller unit like a Nornäs coffee table won't put too many demands on your relationship, but it's a different story for a large wall unit like the $1,199 Liatorp unit, which Ramani has dubbed 'The Divorcemaker'. The description of the item on IKEA's website includes a lengthy 'Good To Know' section outlining the different ways you can mess up the unit's assembly, saying that you need two people to put it together. 'Handle with care!' it reads. 'A damaged edge or scratched surface can in exceptional cases cause the glass to crack suddenly. However, never into sharp fragments, only into small pieces. Avoid collisions from the side - this is where the glass is most vulnerable.' Its relationship-ruining qualities don't seem to be doing the the home furnishings giant any harm however, as it has 298 stores in 26 countries, and boasts a revenue of more than $36 billion a year. As for how to avoid having the dreaded 'IKEA meltdown' with your partner, Janice Simonsen, design spokesperson for IKEA US, recommends to WSJ that you agree on a style before walking into the store.
highlights: A psychology expert has revealed that the stress of a visit to the store can cause serious friction between couples .
  She warned that customers avoid one particular unit known as the Liatorp, which retails for $1,199 and is notoriously tricky to build .
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