Essential Report
Closer or more distant social connections
Q. Since the start of the lockdown restrictions, do you feel closer or more distant from each of the following people in your life?
My partner | My children | My extended family | My neighbours | My friends | My workmates | |
I feel closer | 36% | 35% | 18% | 13% | 13% | 11% |
It has not affected our relationship | 53% | 52% | 55% | 64% | 52% | 53% |
I feel more distant | 11% | 13% | 27% | 23% | 34% | 36% |
Base | 797 | 716 | 964 | 942 | 1,012 | 680 |
TOTAL: I feel closer | Gender | Age Group | |||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
My partner | 36% | 36% | 36% | 49% | 36% | 24% | |
My children | 35% | 32% | 38% | 50% | 41% | 22% | |
My extended family | 18% | 18% | 18% | 24% | 19% | 13% | |
My neighbours | 13% | 14% | 12% | 15% | 13% | 12% | |
My friends | 13% | 13% | 14% | 19% | 11% | 11% | |
My workmates | 11% | 11% | 11% | 13% | 11% | 8% | |
TOTAL: I feel more distant | Gender | Age Group | |||||
Total | Male | Female | 18-34 | 35-54 | 55+ | ||
My partner | 11% | 11% | 11% | 15% | 12% | 6% | |
My children | 13% | 13% | 12% | 11% | 10% | 15% | |
My extended family | 27% | 26% | 28% | 31% | 27% | 24% | |
My neighbours | 23% | 21% | 24% | 23% | 21% | 24% | |
My friends | 34% | 32% | 36% | 42% | 34% | 28% | |
My workmates | 36% | 34% | 39% | 47% | 32% | 24% | |
- More than half of participants don’t feel closer or more distant to the social connections in their life, varying between 64% for neighbours and 52% for children and friends.
- 18-34 year olds are most likely to say they feel closer to their partner (49%), children (50%) and extended family (24%) – but more distant from their friends (42%) and workmates (47%).
- Participants over 55 are most likely to say their social connections haven’t been affected by the lockdown restrictions.

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