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New study on long-term trends: we're only slightly more likely to say we'd like to settle in another country today than in 1948 - though fewer definitely against it. More interesting is the notably higher figure for Reform voters - 60% would like to move abroad www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor...

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...really notable how different this is across sexes - 51% of women say they struggle, just 30% of men. Well-known from studies of sleep that women struggle more from insomnia/disturbed sleep, for all sorts of biological and social reasons @policyatkings.bsky.social @giwlkings.bsky.social

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New study on very long trends: some things haven't changed since 1947 - 4 in 10 struggled to get up in the morning back then, exactly same as now. I feel vindicated that this seems to be just a constant human trait - BUT... www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor... @rentouljohn.bsky.social

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This will be related to all sorts of shifts in realities and attitudes to gender equality (eg only c45% of women worked in late 1940s). Also reflected in shifting roles in home - quarter of men never "helped" with housework in 1940s (even phrasing of question gives idea of cultural norm), now 4%

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New study looking at very long trends: nearly 4 in 10 women said they would rather be a man in 1947, down to 9% today, though that's still twice as high as proportion of men who would rather be a woman... www.kcl.ac.uk/news/homewor... @giwlkings.bsky.social @policyatkings.bsky.social

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Which is one of the key memories of public attitudes at the time, and actually throughout much of the pandemic - that we were very largely in favour of restrictions and had very little sense that "too much fuss" was being made, even if we hadn't quite grasped how long and painful it would be

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But a lot of us were already feeling the effects - half said they were more anxious/depressed, four in ten sleeping less well - and very few were doing things they'd been advised not to, like seeing family or friends

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... and 4 in 10 of us expected life to be back to "normal" in 6 months or less... @policyatkings.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social

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Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

5 years ago this week we released our first major study on Covid and lockdown attitudes/behaviours. Understandably, we hadn't fully grasped how serious it would be - for example, the modal guess was we'd see up to 20k deaths, when excess deaths ended up 200k+... www.kcl.ac.uk/news/life-un...

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And they also have nuanced/varied view on whether the increase is "real" vs better/over diagnosis, and whether it's weak kids or tougher circumstances for young. There's little sign here of strong belief in "snowflake" narrative, or that being better at identifying = bad thing

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Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

What do the public think is driving the increase in mental ill health among young people? Given all focus on phones/ social media, might think that would dominate - but the public don't see one simple cause, in Canada, UK or Australia - a real mix here... @policyatkings.bsky.social @orygen.org.au

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Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

A similar question from World Values Survey shows this isn't just a "Gen Z problem", Millennials (now c30-45 years old) are even more negative and seen a big increase in saying "not proud". This isn't just an issue for youngest but something wider @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social

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Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

The Times series comparing views of young people in 2004 and 2024 is very good - better than lots of snapshot surveys on Gen Z, as shows real change. But it's still only part of the picture - take this collapse in pride in Britain, which saw a lot of discussion... @policyatkings.bsky.social

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Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Hmm, yes - 52% of Gen Z agreeing we need "strong leaders not bothering with elections" would be a huge jump, as Chris says. Here's World Values Survey trend, where 27% agree, half the level. Do worry about rhetoric around this - does set tone that Gen Z are a big break, which can gain own momentum

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And again Reform supporters keenly aware of this, as much as Labour supporters. May point to need to understand the link between economic and cultural dimensions of class better, eg liberal elite as well as extreme wealth

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And we're MORE likely to think there's a class struggle in UK than in 1964. May seem surprising because talk of "class" drowned out by culture war issues, but fits with other work on increasing concern about economic and power inequalities @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social

...breakdown between party supporters interesting. No surprise that Reform supporters more in favour of US as allies - but they're also least keen on being a world power. More isolationist than harking back to global power past...

Second, completely reversed view since 1964 on whether we should try to be a world power or "more like Sweden or Switzerland" Diminished ambitions are maybe predictable, but...

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Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Love updating old polls - new pack out today, with @rentouljohn.bsky.social First, completely reversed preference for Europe over US as allies since 1967. The q isn't asking about "trade partners", the "if you ever had to choose allies" implies more serious situation @policyatkings.bsky.social

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We're 3 days into the supposed start of "Gen Beta" and you can already find dozens of articles on what they'll be like. It's a shame that generational analysis, which can be incredibly powerful in understanding change, is more often closer to astrology, with all the predictive power of a horoscope

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Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

And we were just as likely to think that Christmas was too commercialised in 1969 as we are today - though we are (rightly) more likely to think stores start selling Christmas goods too early today @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social www.kcl.ac.uk/news/share-o...

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Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Some interesting consistencies with 1969 as well though: we were more likely to see Christmas as about family rather than religion back then, not hugely different from today, despite big declines in connection to organised religion since then @policyatkings.bsky.social

Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

It's young people who've seen biggest increase in spending Christmas alone - up from 1% in 1969 to 9% now, which will be due to all sorts of changes in how we live: more single person hholds, more only children, more geographic mobility, later marriage/kids etc, as well as choice by some

Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Chris Skidmore gets our COP Outcomes Forum underway to packed house of diplomas, policymakers, business leaders and academics - focusing on what happened and what next

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Bobby Duffy @bobbyduffy.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

New survey of US and UK on climate ahead of COP29 washup event with Chris Skidmore this eve - reminder that UK is NOT the US on climate, particularly in terms of division between main parties - BUT Reform supporters look a lot like US Republicans... www.kcl.ac.uk/policy-insti...

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Instead we should focus on what's our intergenerational strategy at work, where I can think of four pillars, of recruitment, policies, intergenerational connections and more mutual approaches to mentoring. Growing interest in this, but much to learn on what actually works...

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So my endpoint from all this is that using generational labels at work or trying to work out your Gen Z employment strategy is part of the problem, not the solution - you're helping accentuate divisions that are often not as wide or deep as we're told

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This stereotyping is a massive shame because we've lost a lot of places that generations can connect - really useful analysis by Centre for Towns @drjennings.bsky.social and updated by @tomcalver.bsky.social shows how much we've separated in where we live for example

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So much of the analysis on generations at work is closer to astrology than real insight. That's not say there are no differences, but there are few true cohort effects and they tend to be big picture things around economic circumstances, "delayed adulthood" and mental health

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More recently, we polled people on the terms we associate with Millennials, in 2017 and 2019 - and in those two years they miraculously transformed from selfish and lazy to work-centric and ambitious. Why? Because we added Gen Z to the question in 2019 - people just answering about "young people"

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It plays to our general tendency to think this current generation of young people are the WORST in history. You can pick any era and you'll find quotes like the infamous Socrates one (we polled his description, and the majority of UK public agree this describes today's young people)

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It's hard for employers not to be influenced by constant headlines like these - so many examples and so much background noise that it does affect thinking even if indirectly, like so many generational cliches

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