Whether it’s bonding over favourite TV shows, dietary preferences, or mutual friends, having shared interests is often considered a great foundation for a thriving relationship.
But how crucial are these shared interests for singles? Dating app Jaumo decided to find out, polling 365,000 of its users across 25 countries to uncover what common ground singles actually seek in their new partners.
Age is Just a Number – For Most
Forget what you thought about age being a critical factor in love. Over 63% of the singles surveyed say they couldn’t care less about an age difference with their partners.
In the UK, the sentiment is even more pronounced, with nearly 70% of men and 67% of women brushing off age as a non-issue.
Globally, Dutch men are the most carefree when it comes to age, with 75% saying they don’t mind the gap, followed closely by Belgian and Austrian men and women, at 74% and 73% respectively.
American singles also show a laid-back attitude, with 65% of men and 60% of women indicating they are comfortable with age differences.
However, the picture is different in Brazil, where 63% of women prefer partners of a similar age. Italian women also care more about their partner’s age than men do.
Only one in three women in Italy is open to dating someone with a significant age gap, while two in three men are perfectly fine with it.
Holidays Apart: A Contentious Issue
When it comes to vacations, things get a bit more divisive. While most couples might dream of travelling the world hand-in-hand, a surprising 53% of those surveyed revealed they wouldn’t mind going on holiday alone or letting their partner fly solo.
Leading the charge of those open to solo holidays are the Dutch, with 73% open to the idea, followed by Egypt and Russia, both at 69%.
On the other end of the spectrum, Brazilian women are firm believers that holidays are for partners to enjoy together, with only 30% open to solo vacations.
The sentiment is similar in Portugal and Colombia, where 65% and 62% of women, respectively, insist on romantic getaways with their partners.
In Britain, a modest 63% of women and 53% of men don’t find it necessary to always travel together.
Meanwhile, the majority of American singles seem less enthusiastic about separate holidays, with 47% of both men and women rejecting the concept.
Hobbies: To Share or Not to Share?
Hobbies are often a passion project for many, and the survey reveals a preference for shared experiences.
Turkish singles are particularly keen on this, with 64% stating that enjoying hobbies together is important. Meanwhile, Brazilian singles take a different stance; over 60% prefer to keep their hobbies separate from their relationships.
In the UK, the desire to share hobbies is stronger among women (67%) than men (58%). Yet, British men are slightly more inclined to maintain their own hobbies compared to their female counterparts.
The UK’s average is well above the global 56% who value shared hobbies. In contrast, just 50% of US singles—men and women alike—consider it important to have common hobbies.
Children from Previous Relationships? No Big Deal—Especially for Men
The survey also touched on how singles feel about partners who have children from previous relationships.
The data shows that most men (57%) and a significant number of women (45%) are open to dating someone with children.
Russian men lead the way, with nearly 69% unfazed by the idea. Nearly two-thirds of British singles also express openness to partners with kids.
Interestingly, slightly more women (66%) than men (61%) in the UK are comfortable dating someone who already has children. In the US, the figures are almost even, with 58% of men and 59% of women indicating they are fine with a new partner bringing kids into the relationship.
Common Ground Matters, But Not Always
In the grand scheme of things, the survey from Jaumo makes one thing clear: while singles do seek some shared interests or common ground with a new partner, they don’t feel compelled to align on every little detail.
Many are quite comfortable spending time apart, even going as far as to vacation separately. Generally, women appear more laid-back about these matters than men.