The average adult only has three true friends and has no idea how to make new ones, a new study has found
THE average adult only has three true friends and no idea how to make new ones, a new study has found.
Brits typically stop making new friends aged 37 but this has led to 22% of us often feeling lonely.
And despite having a busy social life and lots of family around, 72% would love to make new friends.
Researchers found that most Brits stop making friends in their late 30s but one in four haven’t formed a new friendship since the age of 24.
And it might be because 48% think it’s harder to make friends or meet new people as you get older.
Close to one in five of the 2,000 people polled feel they are clueless when it comes to making new friendships, with a third admitting they’d be nervous at the prospect.
However, 18% were still keen to give meet-up apps, like Bumble BFF, a go.
The research was commissioned by Beavertown which has partnered with the charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), to launch ‘Crush Loneliness this January’.
A spokesperson for the brewery said: “Loneliness is something which is happening all over the country, every day of the year.
“Making friends is definitely something that was easier at the earlier stages of our lives for a number of reasons.
“But we are keen to show adults that there are other ways to get out there and meet new people.”
So, Beavertown is running a series of social climbing events across the month at London and Lakeland Climbing Centres to help people connect with potential new pals.
The study also found that of those who feel most lonely in January, 45% put it down to people not wanting to socialise after Christmas, while 42% blame it on the lack of events.
But 37% of all adults would be unlikely to admit they are feeling this way to someone else, as six in ten believe there is a societal taboo around adult loneliness.
Reasons why people think it’s harder to make friends when you’re older include people already having established friendship groups, not going out as much compared to their younger years and becoming less confident.
The most common places to make friends are through school in your younger years and at work as you get older.
Beavertown’s spokesperson added: “There are many different ways to make friends and meet new people.
“It might be surprising to learn that a lot of people are in the same boat when it comes to having the confidence to try them out.
“We want to start people’s year off positively by crushing the taboo topic that is loneliness.”