The average woman will spend the equivalent of two months of her life chatting on the phone – to her mum, a new study and infographic has revealed. Researchers found that women make an average of three calls a week to their mum, with each conversation lasting just over 16 minutes.
That’s a total of almost 49 minutes a week, one day and 28 hours a year or almost two months between the ages of 18 and 50.
Incredibly, more than one in ten ring their mom at least once a day, while another 13% admit their conversations usually last at least half an hour each time they pick up the phone.
But poor old dad is treated to just one phone call a week, lasting less than seven minutes a time.
A spokesman for Mobile for Sainsbury’s, which commissioned the study and infographic, said:
“It’s interesting to see that women still spend a large chunk of their time talking to their mums on the phone – despite all the other means of communication that exist now.
“Many mums and daughters have a close relationship and can chat for hours.
“The study has shown conversations can cover all the elements of their day-to-day lives.
“Knowing so much about each other means they can spend a long time on the phone.
“It’s amazing that, just hours after seeing them face-to-face, some women can then get straight back on the phone to their mom.”
The study of 2,000 women found that in an average week, they will speak to a friend, relative or work colleague on the phone 14 times, with each of those conversations lasting almost 15 minutes each.
And the majority of that time is spent on the phone to their mum, with three calls a week lasting a total of almost 49 minutes.
A further 28 minutes each week is taken up with three calls to their best friend, while almost 25 minutes is spent talking to their husband or partner during two separate phone calls.
One weekly call of almost nine minutes is made to their sister, with another seven minutes spent on the phone to their dad.
Women also make another four calls a week to their brother, work colleague, children and grandparents lasting between four and five minutes each.
Researchers also found that more than six in ten women reckon they spend more time on the phone to their mom than anyone else.
And family issues are the most popular subject, closely followed by their children, work and health issues.
Women also phone their mom to chat about their siblings, what’s on TV, money, shopping, friends and the latest gossip from work.
It also emerged that two thirds of women say their mom is the first person they call when they need help or advice.
And almost three quarters call their mom before anyone else when they have good or bad news.
But 80% often just phone their mom for a catch-up with one in ten doing this every day.
And one in five has a set time or day that they talk to their mom on the phone.
Six in ten women even admit there are occasions where they call their mom and end up talking for a long time, despite having seen them face-to-face only hours earlier.
A spokesman for Mobile for Sainsbury’s added:
“If a family of four each switch to the £10 bundle, link their mobile numbers to the household Nectar card and spend the UK weekly average on food and fuel per week, they will earn back a staggering £180 in Nectar points.”
Breakdown:
Mum Three calls a week lasting 16 minutes and 13 seconds each
Best friend Two calls a week lasting 4 minutes and7 seconds each
Husband/partner Three calls a week lasting 8 minutes and 16 seconds each
Sister One call a week lasting 8 minutes and 29 seconds each
Dad One call a week lasting 6 minutes 59 seconds each
Brother One call a week lasting 4 minutes 58 seconds each
Work colleague One call a week lasting 4 minutes and 32 seconds each
Children One call a week lasting 4 minutes and 23 seconds each
Grandparents One call a week lasting 4 minutes and 13 seconds each
Top ten subjects to talk to mom about over the phone
- Family issues
- My children
- Work
- Health issues
- My siblings
- TV programmes
- Money
- Shopping
- Friends
- Gossip from work