READ THIS NEXT: 37 Percent of People Keep This a Secret From Their Partner, Study Shows. A recent study conducted by OnePoll surveyed 2,000 British adults living with a partner to discover the top 30 reasons they argue on a regular basis. The issues they were polled on ranged from chores (things like not taking out the trash) to bad habits (dropping crumbs in bed) to lifestyle disagreements (not wanting to socialize with their partner’s friends). The issues that came out on top might shock you. Interestingly, the number one issue that causes people to fight is a member of the couple forgetting to turn off lights around the house. This frustration bothered people more than leaving the toilet seat up (which came in at number two) and not putting the dishes away (which came in at number three). So, if you’re the type of person who tends to flick on every overhead light or table lamp—and leave them that way when you exit a room—you might want to reevaluate your behavior. It could bother your partner more than you know and may lead to disagreements over time.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb READ THIS NEXT: 5 Relationship Red Flags You Should Never Ignore, Therapists Warn. In addition to looking at the most common issues that caused arguments, the study also analyzed the division of labor between both members of the couple. The researchers found that 54 percent of women believe that they are doing the majority of the housework. Forty-five percent of women living with a man felt that the household tasks were disproportionately split; just 34 percent of men felt the same. Clearly, there’s work to be done on who’s doing the work—and who believes they’re doing the work. Besides chores, couples’ phone and TV usage also came under fire. “How much time they spend on their phone” was reason number 15 why couples fight and “what film or TV series to watch” was reason number 20. The amount of sports a partner watched came in at number 25. For more relationship advice delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Maybe your partner’s version of a perfect Sunday is spending time with their extended family while yours is watching TV on the couch. Or, their idea of a fun Saturday is heading out to the bar with their pals while yours is going on a romantic date night. If these differences of opinion cause disagreements in your relationship, you’re not alone. According to the study, “not making enough effort with each other’s family” and “having to socialize with a partner’s friends” were reasons 24 and 28, respectively, that couples fight. As with every disagreement in your relationship, the key is to tackle it early. Have an honest discussion with your partner about these issues—or any others that frequently rear their heads—to create a compromise that works for the two of you. Then, do your best to adhere to that compromise so you can enjoy the more blissful aspects of your partnership.
