NHS workers and teachers top list of British role models – survey

Public sector workers are viewed as good role models – while politicians, reality TV stars and influencers will find themselves at the opposite end of the scale, a survey suggests.

More than eight in 10 people (83% of those surveyed) said they see NHS workers such as doctors and nurses as good role models, more than any other group given in the poll.

Seven in 10 (70%) of those polled said teachers set a good example, while two-thirds (66%) said the same for members of the Armed Forces.

This falls to 42% of those surveyed from ethnic minority groups, 44% of 18 to 24-year-olds, and 38% in London.

More than half of Britons see themselves as good role models, with 56% of those surveyed saying they set a good example.

But just 38% of 18 to 24-year-olds feel this way about themselves, with self-confidence higher among those aged 35-75 (61%).

Just under half of Britons (46%) view members of the royal family as good role models, the survey suggests, while almost one in five (18%) disagree.

A third (35%) of Britons surveyed considered footballers to be good role models to the public, while one in five (21%) said they are bad role models.

Bankers, journalists, politicians, reality TV stars and social media influencers are all more likely to be seen as bad role models than good.

While one in five (21%) of those surveyed view bankers as positive influences, 30% view them negatively.

The survey suggests that 17% view journalists positively while over a third (35%) disagree, and half (49%) of those surveyed said politicians are bad role models for the public.

Just over one in 10 see reality stars as people to look up to (12%), while half disagree.

Similarly, the survey suggests that just 11% of people are likely to see social media stars as good role models, while 46% say they are bad.

In both cases there is a clear difference by age, with around one in five of those aged 18-44 seeing these groups as good role models, compared with just 5% of those aged 45-75.

Gideon Skinner, director at Ipsos Mori, said: “It’s no surprise to see Britain’s public sector workers being held up as strong role models, particularly after their incredible work during the pandemic, nor to see politicians at the other end of the table.

“But this research also reminds us that not everyone sees potential role models in the same way, with differences by age and other factors such as ethnicity and party support on many attitudes.”

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