Britons feel awkward twice a day, poll suggests

‘It’s best to face the uncomfortable situation head on,’ says social behaviour expert

(Pixabay)

The average Briton feels awkward at least twice a day, including when shopping alone, on a date or eating in public, a poll suggests.

A study of 2,000 adults found almost four in 10 have been left red-faced after tripping over a kerb, while 34 per cent of respondents said they had been embarrassed after pulling on a door that says ‘push’ or vice versa.

More than a third also admitted to waving at a stranger thinking they were someone else. Others said they have felt uncomfortable as a result of realising they had food in their teeth hours after eating.

But the poll, by TePe UK found that while more than half of respondents would want to be told if they had food stuck in their teeth, just a quarter would point this out to someone else if they were suffering from this.

In comparison, less than 10 per cent of respondents said they would alert someone if they had bad breath, although a third were grateful when they were told of their own unpleasant mouth odour.

It also emerged the worst time to be caught with something stuck in their teeth is on a date or at a job interview.

TePe’s social behaviour expert, Emma Kenny, said: “People typically wish to avoid awkward situations as they feel uncomfortable and at times challenging to confront.

“Even if you inevitably help the person by informing them that they have food stuck in their teeth for example, the short-term discomfort experienced by both parties is enough to dissuade the observer from taking action, even though in the long-term this would benefit the other party.

“It's best to face the uncomfortable situation head on. If someone has food stuck in their teeth simply tell them directly.

"If you don’t appear awkward then they won’t feel awkward either.”

The survey also implied that for one in 10 of those polled, it can take days or even weeks to recover from an uncomfortable situation.

As a result, many reported taking steps to prevent embarrassing moments, with respondents looking in the mirror at least twice during the average day to check they don’t have anything in their teeth or on their face.

Another one in five said they carry deodorant and a mirror at all times, while 12 per cent leave the house with toothpicks.

Around one in 10 also carry breath spray in order to avoid unwanted embarrassment. ​

SWNS