· Brits aren’t happy to meet up with friends and family who they know have been breaking social distancing rules
· Tension between Brits is now rising with one in five saying they have fallen out with family and friends over COVID-19
· Hugging has quickly fallen out of fashion with many now saying they do this a lot less
· Many of us are now finally turning to exercise and good nutrition to support our health.
MILLIONS of Brits are avoiding members of their family and friends who don’t stick to the coronavirus rules on social distancing and hand-washing, a study shows.
New research by nutritional supplement company, FutureYou Cambridge, has found that a massive 85 percent of Brits would think twice about meeting up with friends and family they suspect of not following the guidelines, and one in five have had a row over risky behaviour.
While relationships may be seeing some strain, there’s good news for the nation’s health. Compared to this time last year, two thirds (65 percent) of Brits have taken stock and now consider the state of their immune health much more seriously. Over a third (36 percent) have made changes to their behaviours and habits in order to strengthen their immune system – with 45 percent exercising more, 41 percent eating more fruit and veg with an additional 41 percent taking health supplements too.
Londoners are the most likely to have made changes to their behaviour in order to actively strengthen their immune system (62% vs a national average of 36%).
Friends and family will also find themselves with fewer dates in the diary with over a third (38 percent) saying they would challenge friends and family on any behaviour that they disagreed with such as not wearing masks – with 1 in 5 even having rows with people over a difference in attitudes.
Millennial Brits are even more likely to challenge friends and family with almost half (46 percent) saying they would fall out with someone. Over a quarter (28 percent) are also prepared to lock horns with their social circle if they were to find out they were not following government guidelines.
Hugging and shaking hands between family and friends has also fallen out of fashion since Corona came around with 48 percent saying they do much less of this – meaning hugging could soon just be a social norm of the past.
FutureYou Cambridge conducted the research to see how our attitudes have changed towards our own health and immune system since lockdown began and what effect this has had on our relationships.
Commenting on the research Adam Cleevely, CEO of the company said, “It’s sad to hear that strained family tensions are being stretched by differences in attitudes to staying safe and that thatonly half of us now hug and shake hands with our family and friends. But it’s reassuring to learn that nearly two thirds of those questioned are now taking more interest in their own physical health and the different ways to support their immunity . We hope those looking to take positive action to support their immune health will consider the important role health supplements can play as we all try to head back to a sense of normality.”
