But 78% of Americans are okay with it
With text-based communications like email and texting taking over how people interact with each other, sometimes it’s easier to look down at one’s phone screen than spark a conversation with someone. Results from a recent YouGov survey counter this idea and show that a majority of Americans will at least tolerate and partake in small talk at the doctor’s office (78%). Americans over the age of 55 are the likeliest to engage in small talk (40%), but only 23% of younger millennials (ages 18-24) will say the same.
YouGov Omnibus reveals that a majority of people don’t mind engaging in small talk at their doctor’s office (44%) and that in general, more tend to enjoy it (34%) than dislike it (13%). The results remain relatively consistent across party affiliation, gender, and region of residence. As a YouGov poll on small talk earlier this year yielded, 71% of the nation accepts small talk as a social norm and the latest data further supports this idea.
The most recent research on “small talk” identifies one group who are not as keen on it if it’s taking place with a doctor or dentist. Younger Americans, particularly millennials from the age of 18 to 24, are not as taken with small talk as the rest of the country. The group is eleven points less likely than the general public to say they enjoy small talk with their doctors (23% versus 34%). In the same age group, nearly as many say they dislike small talk (21%) as the those who say they do like it. For a fair amount of younger millennials, small talk has no place during a cavity check.
Learn more about YouGov Omnibus research
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