Millennials are less likely to call family member a friend

MILLENNIALS are far less likely to name a family member as one of their best friends than a decade ago.

As greater numbers leave home for university, or move to major cities, people in their 20s less often report being close friends with parents, siblings or relatives.

The findings, from the Intergenerational Foundation, have prompted warnings loneliness is on the rise among young people.

Their use of social media to speak to friends online may be weakening family ties, although the report acknowledges social media can also help family members keep in touch.

The charity found inter-family friendships declined from 2005 to 2015, having already slumped from 1995 onwards. Angus Hanton, Intergenerational Foundation cofounder, said: ‘Little has been done to analyse the plight of young people specifically when they are experiencing such high levels of loneliness and social isolation.’

The study was based on analysis of the British Household Panel Survey in 1995, 2005 and 2015. Overall, 20-somethings in 2015 had 10 per cent lower overall scores for economic, health, relationship, personal, environment and belonging wellbeing, compared to people of this age in the preceding decades.