Posted: 28.10.2004
Immediate Release

Two thirds of adults think bringing up children is harder today than it was when they were young. Broadly, four identifiable themes of materialism and financial pressure, discipline, children's safety and work-life balance emerged as the main reasons why people think it has become more difficult to bring up children today.

This is one of the key findings of a poll commissioned by Parenting across Scotland (PAS) , a multi-agency partnership led by the charity CHILDREN 1st that is being launched today (October 28). PAS will be producing recommendations on how to improve support to parents and families.

Other findings include:

• One in five parents of teenagers said they thought they needed help with problems they experienced with their children.
• Four out of ten parents worry "quite a lot" or "all the time" about how good a parent they are.
• Love, affection and a good stable upbringing are seen as the most important factors in raising children.
• A majority of people (59%) think children can be brought up just as well by one parent as two.
• Over two-thirds of adults agreed that balancing work and home life puts too much pressure on people.
• A majority of all adults (57%) agree that there is "too much emphasis on punishing parents rather than supporting families in bringing up children."
• Over two-thirds of adults were not aware of any organisations that provide advice and support to parents.
• Just over half (55%) said there was someone other than their parents who had an important influence on their upbringing (most likely grandparents, aunts and uncles.)

The MORI poll which asked 1015 adults about their views on parenting is part of the research being carried out by PAS into issues and concerns that affect parents in Scotland. The findings, which have been released during National Parents' Week, will help PAS focus on the improvements that are needed in Scotland to support families and help to give children the best possible start in life. PAS is funded by the Scottish Executive and a final report outlining the measures PAS wants to see introduced in Scotland will be presented to Ministers in the Spring.

The poll found that that 46% of the adults questioned thought it is much more difficult for parents to bring up children today and a further 22% thought it was a little more difficult. Only 17% thought it was easier. Younger adults - those who were raised in the 1960s, 70s and 80s - were more likely to blame material pressures. Older adults - those raised in the 1940s and 1950s - were more likely to explain this in terms of children not respecting adults' authority, being opinionated and argumentative.

The minority who thought raising a family has become easier put this down to improving family economic circumstances (they have more money, there is less unemployment) and there are more options for childcare and other forms of support for families.

Many parents experience problems with their children that leave them feeling out of their depth. The poll found that 21% of parents with teenage children experienced problems they felt they needed help with compared with 18% of parents overall. The main difficulties concerned physical or mental health problems, schoolwork, bullying or truancy, alcohol, drugs or involvement in crime.

Help was mainly sought from professionals such as doctors, teachers, social workers and health visitors. Parents also turned to family members or friends for advice. However, almost one in 10 did not seek help at all. Although there are many organisations that can provide support to families, the poll found that few people knew where to go for such help. Only 24% could name any such organisations and 71% were not aware of any.

Evelyn Gillan co-ordiantor of PAS said: "It is clear that many parents feel under pressure and they don't know where to turn for help. Parents need support if they are to provide the best future for their children. We need to value parenting and caring more. Families are important to children, by supporting families, we support children."

A video has been prepared for the PAS launch which asks people across Scotland for their views on parenting. Louise Smith, a grandmother from Aberdeen who along with her husband has full parental responsibilities for her 10 year old grandson said "It's much harder to be a parent these days. Often help is only available when you reach crisis point. If families received more support earlier, they might avoid getting into a crisis situation in the first place".

Over the next six months, PAS will organise events across Scotland that will bring together various organisations, local authorities and health boards to discuss effective support for families. The conclusions of these meetings will help inform the final report that will go to the Scottish Executive.

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NOTES:

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact Bryan Christie, media adviser to the PAS project on 01620 825420 or 07788 583037

PAS is a multi-agency partnership led by CHILDREN 1st and funded by the Scottish Executive until March 2005. The partner agencies include One Parent Families Scotland, Capability Scotland, Stepfamily Scotland, Scottish Adoption Association, Couple Counselling Scotland, Family Mediation Scotland, Scottish Marriage Care, and Aberlour Childcare Trust.

The launch event on Thursday October 28 will take place in the Edinburgh City Chambers between 12-2.30pm. Speakers include Steven Hope, Research Director of MORI who will present the full findings of the poll; Mary MacLeod, Chief Executive of the National Family and Parenting Institute; Margaret McKay, Chief Executive of CHILDREN 1st; Maureen Verrall, Head of Children and Families at the Scottish Executive Education Department and Evelyn Gillan.

The tenth anniversary of the International Year of the Family is being celebrated in 2004 and the United Nations has called for increased awareness of family issues among Governments.