- 33% of Brits still avoiding social contact, despite lockdown restrictions easing
- Younger people less cautious, with only 15% of 18-24 year olds avoiding social gatherings – far lower than other age groups
- Scotland ranks as the most sociable, with just 31% spurning meetings, while the highest number is in Wales, where 40% are reluctant to see friends
Many Brits are still choosing to “stay at home”, despite lockdown restrictions easing for the summer months.
When people in the UK were asked how many days they had set aside a minimum of an hour to socialise with others, research from 24/7 Pest Control indicates that 33% of Brits are still choosing to avoid social contact altogether.
This figure accounts for the largest percentage of the YouGov study, which collects data from between 1,890 and 2,081 adults per week. Only 17% claim they would socialise for one day a week, with 15% saying they planned to meet friends on two days per week, and 9% say they would see or interact with friends three days a week.
Age plays a large factor in eagerness to socialise, with only 15% of 18–24-year-olds saying they avoid social interactions altogether, compared with 32% of 25–49-year-olds and 42% of 50–64-year-olds.
Those 65 and above show a dip in numbers, with 34% claiming they are avoiding social contact.
In all cases, those who hadn’t planned any socialising account for the largest percentage of the study’s options.
| Question: Thinking about the past week, on how many days have you set aside a minimum of an hour specifically for socialising with other people?
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| Age Range | |||||
| Frequency | All | 18-24 | 25-49 | 50-65 | 65+ |
| Every day | 10% | 12% | 8% | 12% | 10% |
| Six days | 1% | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
| Five days | 3% | 6% | 3% | 2% | 5% |
| Four days | 6% | 8% | 7% | 4% | 5% |
| Three days | 9% | 14% | 9% | 6% | 9% |
| Two days | 15% | 14% | 16% | 13% | 14% |
| One day | 17% | 12% | 19% | 17% | 18% |
| None | 33% | 15% | 32% | 42% | 34% |
| Don’t know | 6% | 10% | 6% | 3% | 3% |
Wales shows the highest volume of residents choosing to continue to stay at home – 40% – despite the country’s restrictions also easing on 17th May. Scotland is similar to the rest of the UK, with only 31% confirming they are choosing not to socialise.
| Question: Thinking about the past week, on how many days have you set aside a minimum of an hour specifically for socialising with other people?
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| All | Scotland | Wales | Male Populus | Female Populus | |
| Every day | 10% | 8% | 14% | 10% | 9% |
| Six days | 1% | 1% | 0% | 1% | 1% |
| Five days | 3% | 2% | 2% | 3% | 4% |
| Four days | 6% | 3% | 5% | 5% | 7% |
| Three days | 9% | 7% | 5% | 8% | 10% |
| Two days | 15% | 19% | 14% | 13% | 16% |
| One day | 17% | 15% | 17% | 16% | 18% |
| None | 33% | 31% | 40% | 36% | 31% |
| Don’t know | 6% | 5% | 3% | 8% | 5% |
Men seem slightly less keen to return to social occasions overall, with 36% avoiding social events compared with 31% of women.
Concerning the findings, a spokesperson from 24/7 Pest Control comments “It is interesting to see a number of Brits still choosing to distance themselves from loved ones, despite restrictions lifting across the country. One hopes this is due to a sense of caution and responsibility, rather than any social anxieties brought on by lockdown.”
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