Married couples have 182 arguments a year

Married couples have an astonishing 182 arguments every year, according to a new survey.

Each dispute lasts for a painful 25 minutes, with a further 30 minutes spent sulking afterwards.

That’s the equivalent to three solid days bickering and an additional four days of couples refusing to talk to each other.

But the rows are unlikely to be marriage-breaking, the most common quarrels tend to focus on domestic chores, not listening to each other and a lack of sex.

The poll of 5,000 people, conducted by global research company www.onepoll.com, revealed that during the first year of dating, couples were most likely to resolve their rows by jumping into bed together.

But years down the line, bound within the security of a sound marriage, a quick apology is all it takes to bury the hatchet.

Full blown arguments tend to focus on subjects such as parenting, lack of money and the mother-in-law.

But a staggering 58 per cent of folk say their day-to-day arguments are nothing more than bickering sessions, and their relationship wouldn’t be the same without them.

A third of people say they often bicker about being ignored, whilst 31 per cent say the amount of time their husband or wife spends on the computer is what annoys them most.

Nagging is another cause for contention, followed by leaving the clothes lying around and spending too much money.

John Sewell, spokesman for www.onepoll.com said: “Over the course of 10 years, the average husband and wife will argue 1820 times, for a period of 30 days.

“But as 63 per cent of people say they think regular arguments are healthy for a successful relationship – there is obviously some truth to the phrase ‘opposites attract’.”

Two thirds of people say regular arguments help to clear the air and get everything out in the open.

And 54 per cent say that arguments are an inevitable of living with other people and performing a juggling act every single day.

Whilst four out of five people say they don’t believe anyone can be married without having the odd dispute.

TOP 20 REASONS FOR AN ARGUMENT

Domestic chores
Not listening to each other
Lack of sex
Lack of money
What to watch on TV / use of the remote control
The children / parenting
Nagging
The mother in law
Driving the car / map reading
What is for dinner
Time spent at work
Being ignored
Time spent on the computer
Leaving clothes lying around
Spending too much money
Who does the most
Snoring
Farting
Decorating
Wasting food