Are We An Angry Nation?

Are we British becoming angrier or losing our temper more often nowadays?

Scrutiny of Ipsos's latest research carried out for Burger King suggests that this may be the case.

Approaching three quarters of British adults agree that "People generally seem angrier these days than they used to be".

And what makes us angry? From a list of alternatives, the "lack of respect among young people" emerges as the most likely source of anger (53%) with the "war in Iraq" (41%) falling in second place, "celebrities avoiding arrest or a prison sentence" (38%) in third place and "noisy neighbours / neighbours playing loud music" in fourth (32%). Only 7% of British adults claim not to become angered by any of the items on our list.

For some, tempers are on the increase with one in four British adults agreeing that "I personally lose my temper more often nowadays than I used to" — although, for one half of adults, this is not the case.

Technical details

Ipsos interviewed a total of 1,022 British adults aged 15 years and over on its Omnibus survey between 7th and 13th September 2007. The survey results were weighted to the known population profile.

Topline Results

• Fieldwork: 7-13 September 2007
• Nationally representative sample of GB Adults aged 15+
• Base: All 2007 (1,022) unless otherwise specified
• Data have been weighted to the population profile
• Interviewers conducted face-to-face in respondents' homes
• An asterisk (*) represents a percentage less than 0.5 but greater than 0
• Numbers may not always add up to 100% due to computer rounding or multiple answers

Q1 I am about to read out a number of statements that have been said about living in modern day Britain. For each statement, please could you tell me the extent to which you agree or disagree?

1. I personally lose my temper more often nowadays than I used to
2. People generally seem angrier these days than they used to be

Q2 Which, if any, of the following makes you angry? Which others?