Family feud: the top things Americans argue with their in-laws about

The average American bumps into their in-laws once a month, with 16% saying they do it more than that, according to a new study.

An exclusive poll conducted for Newsweek by Talker Research found that politics is the number one debated topic among Americans and their in-laws.

The poll, conducted between August 27 and 29, polled 1,000 Americans and found that 31% of respondents said they argue with their in-laws about politics, surpassing other contentious issues such as lifestyle choices (22%) and disagreements about partner (21%).

Money (19%), parenting decisions (18%) and cultural issues (14%) were other common arguments, with issues related to the home (13%) and gender or sexuality (3%) also appearing occasionally times.

Because of this, 27% of the panel reported that they would not enjoy a weekend with their in-laws and a third (33%) would refuse to take a holiday with them.

Furthermore, only one in ten (10%) would be happy for their in-laws to look after their children, rather than their parents.

Licensed psychotherapist Tara Arutunian, who is based in New York state, shared her thoughts on the survey results.

“Identification with political ideals often represents a deep sense of how we see ourselves and how society should function. These rights and wrongs are usually oversimplified and lack nuance, leading to disputes,” she told Newsweek.

As for why these arguments are likely to emerge, Arutunian pointed to generational differences. But above all, she suggested that political arguments are less likely to change opinion than a rowdy match over the dinner table.

“In-laws may see themselves as more seasoned and knowledgeable than younger generations,” Arutunian said. “And younger generations may feel that their in-laws just don’t understand the modern world. This kind of impasse is not likely to be moved, so agreeing to disagree and setting aside future conversations is likely to bring more harmony to the relationship.”

The top 5 topics Americans argue with their in-laws about

1. Politics – 31%

2. Lifestyle choices – 22%

3. Disputes about their partner – 21%

4. Money – 19%

5. Parental decisions – 18%

Survey methodology:

This random two-choice survey of 1,000 Americans of the general population was commissioned by Newsweek between August 27 and 29. It was conducted by market research company Talker Research, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and the European Association for Marketing Opinion and Research.