Confirmed: Men who struggle with instructions half as likely as women to ask for help

The survey also revealed that more than a quarter of us (26 per cent) have our Christmas day spoiled by frustrations of struggling with complicated instruction manuals.

And one in five will lose their temper because they don’t have batteries to get gadgets up and running.

Mothers struggle more than anyone in the family with getting to grips with new gadgets, with a quarter saying they’re baffled by new technology.

But they’re also the most likely to ask for help. Half say they’re prepared to turn to a family member for assistance – unlike their male counterparts who are too embarrassed to ask for help.