26% of Gen Z couples considered quitting their relationship over sports rivalry, reveals new study

For a long time, watching sports has led to stereotypes that couples fight over TV, with men glued to the screen while enjoying popcorn and women complaining about not getting enough attention. Now, a survey has found that this common belief may indeed be true, as reported by Indy100. While it’s well-known that sporting events demand binge-watching, the survey tried to figure out how it affects romantic relationships.

The popular sports betting platform reportedly took opinions from 1,000 couples to understand if they had any disagreements over sports. Among the astounding findings, it was amply clear that sports-related tensions among the respondents were indeed real. Especially for Gen Zers, these arguments had reached a tipping point in their relationships. Notably, one in every four participant couples reported having heated debates in the middle of both high-stakes and low-stakes events. In other words, the survey suggested that love for the partner and love for the game couldn’t go hand in hand.

The impact of sports on relationships was felt more by the younger generation, as pointed out in the BetUS survey. Also, nearly 40% of Gen Z couples faced an argument over sports. These young couples reported not only arguing over sports, but around 26% of them even felt like it was no laughing matter; as silly as it may sound, these couples actually admitted to reconsidering their relationships and even breaking up due to such disagreements. It reportedly brought surveyors to the conclusion that a harmless TV remote holds more power than many would believe, as couples often struggle to control it.

Among other notable findings, the survey also had a positive outcome. Based on the responses, it was discovered that around 60% of the surveyed couples shared a bond over their love for sports. Instead of considering it an ego tussle, they rather treated it as an opportunity to collaborate. Yet, at the same time, some couples responded by calling sports an unpleasant experience they would rather not see again. On top of it, the survey found that many partners were not willing to settle for less and preferred giving the same importance to sporting events as they used to. Such relationships accounted for 30% of those surveyed by the betting platform, where one or the other partner rejected the idea of cutting their sports-watching habits.

Additionally, these reported couples were even willing to compromise to maintain peace in their relationship rather than give up on their favorite sporting events. The survey came days after a man named Jamey Lee (@putoutcontent on Instagram) claimed to have invented what he describes as “The Instagram Theory,” which went viral online. The content creator and professional writer suggested that the bonds adored in the world of social media do not last too long. More so, the writer, through his unique theory, asserted that those in love need not necessarily display it publicly. He took a contrarian position on the growing fad and offered a polarizing take on it.

Moreover, to maintain a happy, peaceful and long-lasting relationship, experts share their take. "No partner is perfect, and the brain is well built to remember the nasty things that were said. But if you can overlook those things and just focus on what’s important, it’s good for the body, good for the mind and good for the relationship,” a biological anthropologist and Kinsey Institute senior fellow Helen Fisher said, per TIME.