Money issues, politics and Fortnite are the topics ‘most likely to cause arguments’ at dinner tables

A study among parents has found 90 per cent say disputes are a common feature of their family mealtimes.

 

But some topics are more likely to get tempers flaring than others, with money the most likely to cause a ruckus, followed by video games and politics.

 

In contrast, softer topics – and those closer to home – are the most popular conversations for families, with the child’s day at school, the wider family chatter and gossip and holidays coming out on top.

 

The data comes from McCain’s ‘Nation’s Conversations’ report which looked into family mealtime habits, rules and topics of discussion to mark the launch of the third instalment of its We Are Family campaign, which is celebrating the emotional impact of differences within families.

 

Mark Hodge, marketing director at McCain, said: “From remain or leave, Love Island to the Women’s Football World Cup, to deeper family issues or just life’s daily grumbles.

 

“Whatever the differences in opinion, we found that when families are united at teatime, over food that everyone loves to eat, each of these differences can bring families even closer together when discussed around the dinner table.

 

“It’s where we feel most like a family.”

 

The study also found the differences among families are not limited to conversation topics alone, with the report revealing varying views on table etiquette too.

 

When it comes to mobile phones being used at the dinner table, almost three in 10 families have said this leads to arguments, while five in six have put a ban on them altogether.

 

But more than a third of families who permit mobile phone usage at the dinner table said they did so as a ‘compromise’ to keep everyone at the dinner table.

 

And a similar number use phones to aid dinnertime discussion, using them as a reference point for certain topics.

 

Despite this, a significant number of parents are also acutely aware of the potential negative emotional impacts of both technology and social media.

 

Two in five admitted they are worried about the nature of the content their child is able to view online, and more than a third were concerned about the impact of social media on their child’s mental health.

 

The research also revealed 95 per cent of families agree mealtimes together are ‘important’, with nine in 10 believing they help foster tighter family bonds.

 

Another nine in 10 say gathering around the dinner table gives parents an ideal opportunity to get to know their kids better.

 

It also emerged families are most likely to sit down together for a meal and a chat on Sundays.

 

But due to busy schedules or varying timetables, two thirds of parents claim they are unable to enjoy a daily meal as a family.

 

Two thirds of mothers still prepare the family meal, but more than double the number of fathers prepare the family meal compared to when they were younger.

 

And a fifth of those surveyed in the research eat different meals to their family due to varying dietary requirements and taste.