So much for the summer of youth

August 14, 2014, 9:55 AM GMT+0

Young people are the least likely group to be enjoying their summer this year

A new YouGov survey asks if people are making the most of their precious few months of good weather, and if not, why not? It turns out that Britain’s 18-24 year-olds, despite fresh memories of long six-week school holidays, are now the least likely group to be feeling the summer atmosphere.

Only 49% of young people say they are making the most of their summer while 39% are not. In the next life-stage, things may slightly improve, but still only 55% of 25-34 year-olds are fully savouring their summers compared to 34% who are not. It isn’t until middle age, it seems, that summer really comes within reach (62% of 40-59 year-olds), while in retirement a very high proportion take hold of summer to the full (72% of over-60s).

The only exclusively urban demographic polled (Londoners) have significantly more trouble making the most of their summer. By 51-34% Londoners are living their season to the full, whilst the rest of Britain is doing so by 63-26%.

On the whole, 61% of British people are managing to make the most of their summer. But for the 27% who are not, one reason in particular stands out: