One in 10 Britons have no close friends

A new study shows that millions of people in the UK feel unloved and lonely. 

According to a new survey, one in 10 people in the UK do not have a single friend and one in five feel unloved and uncared for.

This means that approximately 4.7 million Britons may be leading very lonely lives and lacking in the vital support of friends and partners.

‘The Way We Are Now’ survey – conducted by relationship charity, Relate – looked at 5,778 people aged 16 and over from all over the UK.

Participants had all aspects of their relationships put under the microscope, and they were asked to rate their closeness with partners, friends, bosses and workmates.

In regards to colleagues, 42% of voters said they had no friends at work, while 35% said they believed their bosses consider the most productive employees to be the ones who put work before family and social life.

This statistic could suggest that a great number of Britons are choosing to put their career before their social life, which could be to the detriment of their relationships.

Ruth Sutherland, the chief executive of Relate, said:

“Relationships are the asset which can get us through good times and bad, and it is worrying to think that there are people who feel they have no one they can turn to during life’s challenges.

“We know that strong relationships are vital for both individuals and society as a whole, so investing in them is crucial.”

Significantly the study showed that participants who reported good relationships had higher levels of health and well-being, with 81% who were married or cohabiting claiming to feel really good about themselves.

In contrast, those with poor relationships showed low levels of self-confidence and fewer signs of good health and well-being.

If you are finding your relationships are under a lot of strain and not providing the support and happiness you’d like, speaking to a life coach can help. To find out more, please see our relationships page. 

View and comment on the original Guardian article. 

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Written by Tamara Marshall
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Written by Tamara Marshall
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