Breaking up is hard to do, especially if it’s the most romantic occasion of the year. According to new research from YouGov Omnibus, 7% of Americans have ever ended a relationship on Valentine’s Day, with 18-34-years olds (12%) being the most likely age group to have done so. Fewer than one in ten (9%) 35-54-year-olds have broken up with someone on Valentine’s Day, while a mere 2% of Americans 55 and older have. Men (8%) and women (6%) are almost equally likely to have ended a relationship on Valentine’s Day.
If a relationship is nearing its end as Valentine’s Day approaches, 45% agree that it’s best to break up before the day, while 14% believe one should wait until after the holiday to pull the plug. A small percentage (5%) say that breaking up on Valentine’s Day itself is the most appropriate course of action. Men (8%) are more than twice as likely as women (3%) to believe that this is the way to go.
A similar number (7%) of Americans say that they’ve ended a relationship shortly before Valentine’s Day. They have their reasons: More than one-third (35%) say they did so because they didn’t want to have to fake happiness/romance if they weren’t really feeling it. Over one-quarter (26%) say they simply couldn’t wait any longer to end things. And roughly one in five were thinking about practical concerns: 20% say they didn’t want to have to buy a gift for or spend money on their partner, and 21% didn’t want their partner to buy them a gift or spend money on them.
But for those who find themselves single slightly before Valentine’s Day, there’s hope yet. Roughly half (51%) of Americans say that provided they were single and dating, they would be comfortable going on a first date on Valentine’s Day. Over half (55%) of men indicate that they’re comfortable with this, while fewer (47%) women agree.
A first date on Valentine’s Day might sound daunting to some, but perhaps not for those Americans who consider themselves especially romantic. Close to a quarter (23%) of people say that they believe themselves to be more romantic than the average person. And if you’re looking to snag such a date, head west: people who live in the western US are especially likely (27%) to say they’re more romantic than the average person.
Then there are those romantics who are already happily coupled up. Approximately three in ten (31%) people in committed relationships believe that they’re more romantic than their partner. Women (34%) are more likely than men (28%) to say this is the case. Coupled people between 18 and 34 (37%) are especially likely to consider themselves romantic, while only 26% of those who are 55 and older feel the same. Only 22% of Americans in relationships believe they’re less romantic than their partner, while 41% say they are equally as romantic as their significant other.