Three quarters of Britons don't see friends 'as often as they'd like', survey finds

Hectic work schedules and a lack of money blamed

Three-quarters of those polled said they do not get as much face-to-face time with their friends as they would like (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Millions of Britons struggle to spend time with their friends because they are too busy or cannot afford to catch up, a study suggests.

Hectic work schedules and a lack of money mean three-quarters of those polled said they do not get as much face-to-face time with their friends as they would like.

Psychologist Mark Coulson said: “Our research data suggests that geographical separation is one of the contributing factors to why we are losing out on face-to-face time.

“Time marches on, we are far more mobile than we used to be and consequently far less likely to end up living near each other.

“Combine this with how easy technology has made it for us to see people without being physically present, and factor in the hectic pace of modern life, and it is no wonder we are lacking and therefore craving a little bit more one on one time with friends.”

The study, commissioned by Mini, also revealed the ingredients for maintaining a lifelong friendship.

These included exchanging 10 messages a week, catching up over three phone calls a month and making time for at least one holiday or road trip together every year.

Mr Coulson added: “Deciding if someone will be a friend for life or not, is not just a decision we consciously make.

"The synchronisation of body language, patterns of eye contact, even how they smell, is just as important as the words that come out of their mouths.”

“Services like Hatch Maker are a great example of how we can use the power of science and technology in order to connect like-minded people, and increase quality face-to-face time by providing not just a match but a shared experience.”

South West News Service