Originally published: AAP, 15 July 2026
SYDNEY, July 15, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — New national research from PILOT Pen Australia has found more than 7 in 10 Australians (71.85%) say they have avoided trying something new because of fear of failure, and almost two-thirds (62.74%) regret not starting something sooner because of self-doubt.
The research found lack of confidence is the biggest barrier holding Australians back (57.38%), followed by fear of judgement or embarrassment (38.95%) and past experiences of bullying or criticism (28.5%). The findings also show how early experiences can have a lasting effect, with almost 9 in 10 Australians (87.51%) believing experiences of bullying or criticism in childhood can impact confidence later in life.
This study was conducted by Pureprofile on behalf of PILOT Pen from 13th to 18th June 2026, surveying a nationally representative sample of 1,009 Australians aged 18+ years.
