Couples spend 4x more time looking at screens than each other

We now spend a staggering 36 hours a week on social media, computer games and watching TV, and just eight hours talking to our partner - of which we waste 1 hour 30 minutes bickering, according to a new study.*

Three in ten complain they don't have enough quality time to spend with their loved one, but it seems we fritter away much of it, ignoring each other or arguing over trivial matters.

Carried out amongst 2,000 UK adults, for Privilege Home Insurance, the data showed that almost a third of those living with their partner argue with them over unimportant things, and almost a quarter confess they do so at least three times a week.

Debates over what to cook leads to almost a quarter (23 per cent) of couples falling out every single week of the year, the research found.

Meanwhile, one in ten argue over room temperatures at least five times a week, a fifth fall out over what to watch on TV twice a week or more, and one in ten bicker at least four times a week over the washing up, the research found.

As well as spending the equivalent of an entire working week immersed in screens, we also spend more time doing household chores than chatting to our other half.

Tasks such as cleaning, cooking, washing up and doing the laundry typically take up 15 hours 24 minutes of our time, and despite the drive for gender equality, women are still spending over three hours a week more on it than men, which could perhaps be to blame for some of the bickering.

The average Brit also spends 2 hours 20 minutes each week doing extra work from home.

It even seems the family pets are getting in the way of spending time together too, as many of those with animals are guilty of spending over 12½ hours a week walking or playing with them.

In fact, over a quarter (28 per cent) of those living with their partner openly admits to giving their pets more attention than their other halves. 

We’re not much better when it comes to talking to our kids either, with parents of young children spending just nine hours a week talking to them.

Although many currently spend very little or no quality time with their loved ones, the good news is that over half (53 per cent) would at least like to spend more time with them, a figure that rises to two thirds (67 per cent) for those with younger children.

In order to do this, 60 per cent of those with children under 18 said they would consider setting aside a certain time of day when phones, TVs, and computers are switched off, and two thirds (63 per cent) would like to introduce daily family meal times to help spend more quality time together. 

Additionally, once at the table, six in ten (57 per cent) want to ban screen use over dinner.

Christian Mendes, Head of Privilege Home Insurance, said: “As a home insurance brand we wanted to look at how people in the UK spend the time they have together at home.

“Unfortunately, modern life often gets in the way of talking to each other, and if it’s not phones, computers and TVs, it’s the tasks of everyday life distracting us and disturbing the peace. 

“It seems the younger generation is the worst, with 18-34 year old couples spending almost 41 hours in front of a screen each week, only seven hours talking to each other face to face and three hours bickering.

“However, I’m pleased to see there’s cause for optimism, with the data showing that we realise the importance of spending time talking to our loved ones, and that by changing a few daily habits, we can put our partners first.”

What we’re most likely to be doing when we’re at home

1. In front of all screens (TV, phone, computer) (35.6 hours per week)
2. Cooking / cleaning (15.4 hours per week)
3. Walking or playing with pets (12.6 hours per week) **
4. Talking face to face with my children (9 hours per week) ***
5. Talking face to face to my partner (8 hours per week)*
6. Eating dinner at the table (3 hours per week)
7. Working at home – non-contracted hours (2.4 hours per week)
8. Bickering / arguing with partner (1.5 hours per week)

Screen time use at home

1. Watching TV (19.2 hours per week)
2. Scrolling social media (9.4 hours per week)
3. Messaging (4.1 hours per week)
4. Playing computer games (2.9 hours per week)

ENDS

For more information, please contact: Georgia Andrewes at Richmond & Towers:

georgia@rtc.london/ 020 3179 0720

Notes to editors:

Research carried out amongst a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults by Opinium Research between 18th and 20thDecember 2018

Privilege

Privilege Insurance specialises in home insurance for homeowners and landlords. It also offers car insurance and breakdown cover by phone or on-line.

Privilege general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Privilege and UK Insurance Limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.   

Customers can find out more about Privilege’s products or get a quote by calling

0345 246 0515or visiting www.privilege.co.uk

* those that live with a partner

** pet owners

*** those with children under 18