THREE quarters of Brits are in a “friendship recession,” as how people keep their pals close is revealed.
People say they have fewer friends than they did fives years ago, research shows.
Giving your pal a hug when they need one came out top in the poll (stock image) Credit: Getty
The seventh most popular sign of a modern friendship, according to the poll, was to make your pal a cuppa when they need one Credit: Getty
However, a new poll has unearthed a definitive list of ways to keep the bond going, with giving a friend a hug when they need one (52 per cent) topping the list, followed by sending a thoughtful message (51 per cent) and remembering their birthday (45 per cent).
Checking in when they go quiet (44 per cent), looking after them when they’re ill (44per cent) and listening to their relationship problems (41 per cent) also ranked among the nation’s most valued acts of friendship.
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The study, commissioned by The Camping and Caravanning Club as it celebrates its 125th anniversary, found that despite Brits’ reputation for having a stiff upper lip, it is often the smallest gestures that matter most.
But the research also highlighted growing concerns about the state of modern friendships.
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Almost three-quarters (73 per cent) admitted it’s tough to maintain relationships as an adult, with 76 per cent spending less quality time with friends in person than they used to.
And we’re blaming busy work lives (68 per cent), family commitments (53 per cent) and living far apart (47 per cent) as the main reasons we’re losing friends.
Lack of free time (46per cent), money worries (36 per cent) and different life stages (32 per cent) also play a major part.
Encouragingly, the survey found that holidays remain one of the best places to form lasting friendships, with two in three Brits (65 per cent) revealing they have made a close friend while away from home.
Camping was identified as one of the best environments for nurturing relationships, with more than half (53 per cent) saying they’d made a mate whilst doing this, and they’d stayed in touch for up to four years.
A surprising 5 per cent said they’d even met their other half on a camping trip.
Sabina Voysey, Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club said: “Our research suggests that friendships are increasingly being squeezed by the pressures of modern life, yet people are craving more meaningful connections than ever.
“As we celebrate our 125th anniversary, it’s particularly fitting that friendship is at the heart of these findings.
“The Camping and Caravanning Club itself was founded by a group of friends back in 1901 who shared a love of the outdoors and adventure.
“More than a century later, we’re still seeing how camping helps bring people together, whether that’s old friends strengthening their bonds or complete strangers striking up new friendships on a campsite.”
According to the findings, the average Brit has 11 friends, with just three of them described as ‘close’ whilst nearly half of us (49 per cent) have ‘friend’ connections on social media we’d actively avoid in real life.
Top 20 signs of true modern friendship
Giving them a hug when they need one – 52 per cent
Sending a thoughtful text message – 51 per cent
Remembering their birthday – 45 per cent
Checking in when they go quiet – 44 per cent
Looking after them when they are ill – 44 per cent
Listening to their relationship problems – 41 per cent
Making them a cup of tea when they are upset – 37 per cent
Making them laugh when they are down – 37 per cent
Remembering small details about their life – 35 per cent
Being honest when they need advice – 34 per cent
Being comfortable in silence together – 30 per cent
Letting them rant without judgement – 29 per cent
Defending them when they are not there – 29 per cent
Turning up in a crisis – 28 per cent
Making time even when busy – 25 per cent
Forgiving them when they make a mistake – 25 per cent
Celebrating their wins – 23 per cent
Feeling like we can be the truest version of ourselves together – 23 per cent
Calling rather than just texting – 22 per cent
Offering them a place to stay – 22 per cent
Interestingly, men (13) have more friends than women (10), and it’s the people of Truro who have the most mates (18), ahead of Plymouth (13) and Oxford (13).
Psychologist Dr Sophie, who was involved in the study, said: “Strong friendships are built through shared experiences rather than perfectly curated moments.
“While social media allows us to stay in touch, it doesn’t always provide the face-to-face interactions that help relationships deepen and flourish.
“And sometimes it actively gets in the way of connection.
“What’s really behind a lot of struggling friendships isn’t a lack of time so much as a lack of undivided attention.
“Camping strips away the usual distractions – there’s no laptop open on the sofa, no phone buzzing mid-conversation – so the small acts that actually sustain friendships, like noticing when someone’s gone quiet or simply listening properly, get room to happen again.
“It’s telling that so many people who make a friend while camping stay in touch for years afterwards.
“Friendships formed with that kind of full attention tend to be sturdier, because they were built on real presence rather than the kind of low-effort contact social media makes so easy.”
To celebrate its 125th anniversary, The Camping and Caravanning Club is offering summer deals from £17.50 on a select range of sites.
To book click here.
