Some People Dislike Answering Phones. Is It Due to Anxiety?

Today, people are increasingly reluctant to answer phone calls. Various factors contribute to this aversion. Is anxiety the cause?

Uswitch, an organisation regularly publishing reports on mobile phone usage, conducted a survey on this phenomenon. The survey was carried out between 9-12 April 2024 among the UK population, with 2,000 respondents aged 18-34.

The survey found that a quarter of young adults dislike answering calls, feeling uncomfortable doing so. Additionally, 70% of respondents in this age group prefer text messaging over voice calls.

Most respondents choose to ignore calls from unknown numbers and check the caller’s identity when encountering unfamiliar numbers.

Researchers analysed the reasons behind this reluctance. Phone calls are often perceived as anxiety-inducing and associated with bad news or emergencies. Answering calls can also trigger fears of saying the wrong thing.

Furthermore, 63% of respondents deliberately avoid answering calls due to concerns about scams or telemarketing spam. Another 64% dislike answering because they dislike small talk, with researchers attributing this to the current generation’s preference for quick, casual, and direct communication.

Overall, the survey highlights a growing reluctance to answer phone calls, with anxiety being one of the key factors.