The 10 most confusing areas of modern life

14:24 02 August 2010

A new report has suggested that the bombardment of choices we face leaves us confused, unable to make even simple decisions, leading to depression.

The sources of confusion often stem from new technology and expectations in society, experts have warned.

Our nation of "indeciders" is defined as "a group of individuals suffering high levels of confusion while displaying an inability to be decisive, leading in some cases to depression".

The term was coined by Professor Harriet Bradley from the University of Bristol. She stated: "With a constant stream of new media, daily technological advancements and aggressive multimedia advertising, it's no wonder over half of Britain thinks life is more confusing for them than for their parents."

Their survey revealed that 42% lie awake at night trying to make choices, and almost half admit that "even little decisions can be hard to make". Other sources of bafflement include the new era of a coalition government and the concept of giving bankers a bonus during a time of financial collapse.

6,000 people were quizzed for the Confused Nation report for price comparison website Confused.com. The findings are below.

Top 10 most confusing areas of modern life:

1. Bankers' bonuses
2. Policies of political parties
3. Global warming/carbon emission policies
4. Pensions, share prices and interest rates
5. The term 'smart/casual'
6. Job interviews
7. Fuel bills
8. Twitter / predictive texts
9. US TV drama Lost
10. Flat pack furniture