Australians have a reputation for being a sociable bunch, but we're spending more time alone than ever before. Experts say social media, living alone and a fashion for being busy is driving the trend.
"The number of close friends that Australians have has approximately halved since the mid 1980s, as has the number of neighbours who we know well enough to drop in on uninvited."Technology is pushing us apart, a larger portion of Australians work, and we are tending to work longer hours."And he points to a deeper shift, tugging at the socials bonds that"We've become more individualistic as people, and less communitarian," he says.
And an increasing number of Australians have reported experiencing social anxiety since the start of the COVID pandemic. Psychologists say the current cost-of-living crisis is fuelling Australians' sense of isolation, as people opt out of attending dinner, concerts and holidays.Some people in regional areas believe adult friendships are easier to form in country towns, where there are fewer degrees of separation and more relaxed social mores.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Here's why experts are confident about who will win the Fadden by-election todayThousands of voters on the Gold Coast will elect a new federal MP today. Here's what you need to know.
Read more »
‘Running on adrenaline’: Sleep disorders a growing problem for young AustraliansAbout one in five young Australians now has a sleep disorder, most commonly insomnia, due to the lingering effects of the pandemic, researchers say
Read more »
‘Running on adrenaline’: Sleep disorders a growing problem for young AustraliansAbout one in five young Australians are believed to have a sleep disorder, and doctors warn they are observing rising rates of insomnia.
Read more »
‘Wouldn’t discard him lightly’: Why selectors are reluctant to dump WarnerAlmost every great Australia Test batter has felt the cold blade of the selectors’ axe at least once in their career. Not so Warner, whose absences from the side since his debut have been due to injury or discipline.
Read more »
Breaking the speed limit: Why fast bowlers have reached peak paceAlmost 50 years ago, cricket’s Jeff Thomson and baseball’s Nolan Ryan hurled a ball frighteningly fast. Five decades later, no baseball pitcher has thrown, nor a cricketer bowled, much faster, begging the question: why can’t a ball be propelled faster ...
Read more »
Why a fit Virgin Australia is critical to flyers and investorsAnalysis: Despite our dependency on flying, aviation is a notoriously difficult industry to make profitable, and many local airlines, including Virgin itself, have previously perished in their attempt to do so.
Read more »