*Finding suitable images for this article was difficult. Let me put that out there at the start.
Given that at the moment we’re being advised to wear masks, avoid physical contact and wipe everything down with disinfectant- the idea that some people may be touching at all is somewhat off putting. So, to hear that people are actually PDA-ing (public displays of affection) is frankly enough to bring out flop-sweat.
Whether you’re guilty of them or not, PDAs are something that divides us as a nation. thortful.com surveyed1 the UK to reveal the most prudish and promiscuous areas, to uncover not only the PDAs Brits feel most uncomfortable witnessing, but what they’re also guilty of getting up to in public (and how many have been caught in the act!).
Belfast crowned PDA capital of the UK
When it comes to getting frisky, it seems people from Belfast are the most daring. Whilst 15% admitted to having sex in public, the findings revealed that snogging is their PDA of choice.
Meanwhile Newcastle comes in second place with Geordies showing they are no prudes with 1 in 10 having partaken in foreplay in the great outdoors!
Southampton reveal their sentimental side with hugs being their preferred PDA, whilst those in Leeds favour holding hands (cute!).
And with the ‘Eat out to help out scheme’ starting in August, it’s good news for Sheffield locals who prefer feeding their partner.
The full index can be seen below:
| Ranking* | City | Risqué Index Score | Prudish Index Score | Total Index Score |
| 1 | Belfast | 0.5 | 0.9 | 1.4 |
| 2 | Newcastle | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| 3 | Birmingham | 0.5 | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| 4 | Sheffield | 1.0 | 0.2 | 1.2 |
| 5 | Southampton | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.2 |
| 6 | London | 0.7 | 0.5 | 1.2 |
| 7 | Edinburgh | 0.1 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| 8 | Nottingham | 0.6 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| 9 | Leeds | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.0 |
| 10 | Bristol | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.8 |
| 11 | Cardiff | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| 12 | Norwich | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 |
| 13 | Manchester | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.6 |
| 14 | Liverpool | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 |
| 15 | Glasgow | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
The findings also show that men are more up for PDAs than women, with more men admitting to having sex and snogging in public, compared to women.
Age also seems to play a factor in levels of promiscuity and prudishness. Generation X was the most risqué, with Millennials not far behind in second place. And being promiscuous in public doesn’t run in the family, with the baby boomer generation (many of whom are parents of millennials) being the most prudish.
Commenting on the findings, thortful.com said: “It’s interesting to see the PDA capitals of the UK, as well as what Brits would and wouldn’t do in public. Southerners sometimes get a bad rep for being standoffish, but it appears this isn’t the case, especially with those in Southampton favouring hugs.”
The full findings can be seen at: https://www.thortful.com/pda-index
Image: Pixabay
*Methodology:
thortful surveyed Brits to find out their opinions on PDA (Public Displays of Affection). They asked them what they feel uncomfortable witnessing (kissing, hugging, etc) as well as what they’re guilty of doing in public.
From the results, they were able to extrapolate:
- a risqué index score weighted between 0 and 1, based on what people had admitted to doing in public. The closer to the 1, the more risqué the city
- a prudish index score weighted between 0 and 1, based on the PDAs people are uncomfortable witnessing. The closer to the 1, the less prudish the city
They then added the scores together to create a total index score, to reveal the PDA capitals of the UK.
About thortful
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