A study found that more than one in five couples have nothing in common

The famous adage “opposites attract” turns out to be true for at least one in five couples, according to a new British study. Although some change their habits to become like their partner, others adapt and live with their many differences.

This is a study of 2,000 adults in relationships, commissioned by the British Sky Atlantic, which was conducted in recent months.

Some aspects depend on preferences for different backgrounds. For example, nearly 25% of participants found that they had different hobbies than their partners, while 14% said their musical tastes were on completely separate wavelengths.

To avoid future conflicts, couples choose to compromise. This is particularly the case with one in five people admitting to changing their interests to have something in common with their partner.

Some couples try to prove that their differences will not end their relationship. On the contrary, more than half of the participants confirmed that relationships with opposing views suit them better. A larger percentage of people (73%) also said that having distinct interests can lead to more enriching conversations in their relationship.

Finally, the study found that 24% of people believe that couples with divergent views are more likely to stay together than those who don’t.

However, a recent report from the University of Colorado Boulder challenges the idea that couples don’t need anything in common to get along. The experts analyzed more than 130 personality traits such as political views, alcohol consumption, social behavior, and age of first sexual intercourse. The analysis found that between 82% and 89% of the traits partners were likely to share with each other, calling into question the phrase “opposites attract.”