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Our new report reveals Scotland’s couple, family, friendships, sex and work secrets:

• 1 in 10 people don’t have a single close friend (8%)
• 1 in 5 never or rarely felt loved in the two weeks before the survey (18%)
• A quarter of people say they are not satisfied with their sex lives (24%)
• 1 in 3 think their bosses believe the most productive employees put work before family (33%)
• 9 in 10 people have good relationships with their partners (91%)

The study of more than 5,000 people in the UK has lifted the lid on the state of our relationships and found that one in ten people in Scotland has no close friends.

Published today by Relationships Scotland and Relate, The Way We Are Now 2014 is one of the largest studies of its kind. It provides a window into the most important areas of our lives – from couple and family life to sex, friendships and interactions with colleagues and bosses.

The study finds some concerning statistics around how close we feel to others, including one in ten people saying they don’t have a single close friend and one in five rarely or never feeling loved in the two weeks before the survey.

The Way We Are Now 2014 also finds a strong connection between our relationships and our personal wellbeing. It seems that, even in today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, relationships still act as shock absorbers when times are hard and also help us to achieve our goals. Crucially, the study finds that people who enjoy good quality relationships also have higher levels of wellbeing, whilst relationships of poor quality are detrimental to wellbeing, health and how we feel about ourselves.

Stuart Valentine, Chief Executive of Relationships Scotland, said: “This new study examines the quality of our relationships, showing a clear link between our personal relationships and our wellbeing. Whilst there is much to celebrate, the results around how close we feel to others are very concerning. There is a significant minority of people who claim to have no close friends, or who never or rarely feel loved – something which is unimaginable to many of us.

“Relationships are the asset which can get us through good times and bad, and it is worrying to think that there are people who feel they have no one they can turn to during life’s challenges. We know that strong relationships are vital for both individuals and society as a whole, so investing in them is crucial.”

Download the full report, executive summary, infographic and press release today.

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