One4all survey explores our relationships with our friends
After being embroiled by media in the Jolie-Pitt’s acrimonious split, Jennifer Aniston’s famous pals Courtney Cox and Chelsea Handler have leapt to the actress’ defence. Good timing for the Friends star as a new survey by Ireland’s leading gift card company One4all Ireland* reveals that Irish adults count most on their friends to pick them up when they are in down in the dumps (33%) and following a break up (10%).
The research, which explores our relationships with our friends, indicates that a third of Irish adults are most reliant on their friends when they are feeling low, and also around the loss of a loved one (29%). Our 20s are the years in which we most need a friend to lean on according to 38%, while 1 in 4 say they still feel reliant on their pals in their thirties.
THE BEST MEDICINE
It seems that a chat and a giggle with a friend may be the perfect antidote when feeling blue, with half of respondents (49%) saying that fun and laughter are what they most seek from a friendship, followed by someone they can confide in (27%).
Coincidentally, 36% say that a shared sense of humour was the reason they and their best friend first formed a friendship. When it comes to the qualities they most desire in a friend, loyalty ranked top for a third (31%), with trustworthiness and supportiveness being equally important for 16%.
FORMATIVE YEARS
The One4all Ireland survey also finds that the group of people we choose to call our friends are most likely to be those whom we met in secondary school (17%). Working in close proximity also leads to lasting bonds with 15% of Irish adults saying that a current or former colleague is now their closest friend.
CATCH UP TIME
A quarter of people polled say bonding at brunch or having a natter over dinner is the preferred way to spend time with a friend. When it comes to seeing our friends 1 in 5 of us try to catch up with a few times a week while 15% say they see their bestie every day.
A whopping 83% of Irish adults claim that they can always tell what their friend is thinking and almost 2 in 3 (64%) respondents believing that they and their best friend are very similar.
Commenting on the survey findings Aoife Davey, group marketing manager for One4all Ireland, said: “It’s interesting to see how dependent as adults we are on our friends. Though we may not always realise it, they are the ones that pick us up when we’re feeling low and lend an ear when we need it most. I also think it’s great, and very Irish, that the most important attributes and qualities we search for in friends are laughter and loyalty!”
“When, like 15% of our survey respondents, we see our friends every day, we can sometimes take for granted the positive impact they have on our lives. A personalised One4all Gift Card is a great way to show a token of your love and gratitude for your best friend.”
Whether it’s a small gesture or a grand gift, there is something to suit everyone’s budget when buying a One4all Gift Card. Use One4all’s online personalisation service to add a memorable photo or a special message to the card and top it up with any value you wish between €15 and €500.
With over 7,000 retails partners online and nationwide to choose from, your bestie will have no problem choosing the perfect present. Pick up a pre-designed One4all Gift Card at your local Post Office and in selected PostPoint outlets, Applegreen and Topaz Service Stations nationwide.
To order online and personalise your card, visit www.one4all.ie.
*Survey carried out among 682 adults in Ireland aged 18+
