Silent Homes

- One in ten(1) Brits spend more time talking to their partner by phone or email than they do in person -

Longer hours at work with increasing workloads and stresses mean that British couples now spend less than an hour a day(2) talking in person, with almost one in five (18 per cent) spending just 15 minutes speaking face-to-face according to new research out today.

The study by esure home insurance(3) found that excluding time asleep the average couple now spends just 3hours 40minutes together each day during the week(4), of which 51 minutes is spent in silence in front of the television and 37 minutes carrying out household chores. More than a quarter (27 per cent) of the couples polled admitted that they do not get the chance to relax and have a proper conversation with their other half until the weekend, and 22 per cent sit down to dinner together just three evenings per week or less.

Notably, even when together 41 per cent of couples actually send texts, emails or use social networking sites such as Facebook to relay messages rather than speak to one another. Small wonder that 28 per cent of those polled said that they often felt annoyed when their partner texted or emailed while they were together.

According to the findings the average couple sends a whopping 1,002 texts and almost 400 (391) emails to each other every year. A further 13 per cent of those polled even admitted checking Facebook to keep track of what their other half is up to.

Whilst technology may be helping busy couples keep in contact, the findings also revealed that it can drive some apart. Over a fifth (22 per cent) said they had misconstrued texts or emails sent by their partner, whilst seven per cent admitted that they spend so much time talking via their gadgets during the day that they don’t make the effort with their other half when they get home at night. More than one in ten (14 per cent) said that technology had made them more distant as a couple.

Dr Cecilia d’Felice, Senior Chartered Clinical Psychologist, Author & Broadcaster, comments: “Technology appears to be our constant friend, but can mean we lose out on valuable quality time with our partners. Busy lives and long hours can leave relationships lacking in opportunities for genuine intimacy, because technology creates a ‘third wall’ through which we filter our communications.

“The ‘third wall effect’ can create a feeling that we are in control of communications by removing or exaggerating their emotional content from a safe distance. We can tell people we love or hate them with a mere click of the send button without seeing the real effect this has on them. Turning off the hi tech-toys and having a good old fashioned chat is vital as relationships thrive on communication.”

Regional Divide (Regions that spend the least time communicating face-to-face):

London (52 minutes per day)
Wales (53 minutes per day)
= South East (54 minutes per day)
= West Midlands (54 minutes per day)
North West (56 minutes per day)
East England (59 minutes per day)
Yorkshire (62 minutes per day)
= South West (63 minutes per day)
= North East (63 minutes per day)
Scotland (74 minutes per day)

Nikki Sellers, Head of home insurance at esure, comments: “Our tech-savvy society encourages a lifestyle packed with laptops, Smartphones and social media rather than chat, cuddles and face-to-face time. This inevitably leads to a breakdown in direct communication.

“Tech-reliant lifestyles not only affect our personal interactions but also the value and appeal of our homes to burglars. It’s crucial for modern homeowners to have plenty of home insurance and accidental damage cover for all those gadgets that are now woven into the fabric of their relationships.”

Gender Divide

According to the research, women send more texts, with an average of 2.8 per day totalling a massive 1,015 per year. A further 12 per cent send six or more texts to their partner every day. In comparison, 41 per cent of males confess that they never text their partner during the day, but favour emails – sending 436 per year compared to the 351 sent by females.

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esure’s press contacts:

For further information please contact the esure press office at Mischief PR on 020 7100 9999 or email esure@mischiefpr.com

An ISDN line is available for radio interviews

Notes to Editors:

(1) 13 per cent of couples polled
(2) 58 minutes
(3) esure used the independent online research company FlyResearch who surveyed 1,000 adults from across the country aged 18 and over, between 23rd and 27th September 2010. Fly Research is an online market research company. Its researchers are members of the MRS and Esomar, and abide by their guidelines. Further information at www.flyresearch.com
(4) Monday – Friday inclusive