FAMILY MATTERS

This National Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail poll was conducted by telephone between July 26th and August 6th, 1999 among a cross-section of 2,499 Canadians, aged 18 and older.

These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional, age/sex composition and incidence of having children reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 1996 Census data.

With a national sample of 2,499 one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results are within 1771.9 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be much larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

These are the findings from an Angus Reid Group survey of 2,499 adult Canadians (aged 18 and older) conducted between July 26th and August 6th, 1999. With a national sample of this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the overall results are within 1771.9 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

General Attitudes 56% Agree State of Today's Family is a National Crisis and that the Government Must Take Steps

The majority (56%) of Canadians agree (22% strongly, 34% somewhat) that "the state of the family is a national crisis and the government must take steps to alleviate that crisis". Four-in-ten (42%) disagree (10% strongly, 32% somewhat).

• Regionally, Quebec (71%) and the Atlantic Provinces (64%) are more likely to agree that the state of the family is a national crisis that is in need of government intervention than residents in British Columbia (47%) or Ontario (49%). Alberta (53%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (56%) were on par with the national average (56%).
• Divorced/separated respondents (61%) are slightly more likely than the national average (56%) to agree the state of the family is a national crisis.
• As the level of education increases, agreement decreases. Respondents with less than high school (71%) education are significantly more likely than respondents with high school (62%), post-secondary (56%), or university (44%) education to agree that the state of the family is a national crisis.
• A similar trend is evident across income groups. Low income households (those earning less than $30,000 per year - 68%) are more likely than higher income households (those earning $30K to $60K - 60% and $60K or more - 45%) to agree that the government must take steps to alleviate the crisis.

Seven-in-ten (72%) Canadians agree "both the man and the woman should contribute to the household income".

• On a regional basis, agreement is higher in Quebec (81%) than any of the other provinces (national average, 72%).
• Both men (72%) and women (73%) agree that both partners should contribute to the household income. However, more females strongly agree than males (33% females, 29% males).

56% Agree a Pre-School Child is Likely to Suffer if Both Parents are Employed

The majority (56%) of Canadians agree (21% strongly, 35% somewhat) "a pre-school child is likely to suffer if both parents are employed".

• More men (63%) than women (48%) agree that a pre-school child is likely to suffer if both parents are employed.
• As age increases so does the likelihood that respondents will agree with the statement. Respondents aged 55+ (64%) are significantly more likely than 35-54 (54%) and 18-34 year olds (50%) to agree.
• Residents in Quebec (62%) are more likely to agree than the national average (56%).
• As education level increases, agreement decreases. That is, 45% of university graduates agree compared to 71% of respondents without high school, 62% with high school, and 53% with some post-secondary education.

78% of Canadians Agree Parents Today Are Not Strict Enough

More than three quarters (78%) of Canadians agree (32% strongly, 46% somewhat) that "parents today are not strict enough with their children". Two-in-ten Canadians disagree (17% somewhat, 3% strongly) with that statement.

• Respondents who do not have a high school diploma (84%) are significantly more likely than respondents with University education (73%) to agree that parents are not strict enough with their children.
• Regionally, residents of Quebec (41%) are more likely than the national average (32%) to 'strongly agree' that today's parents are not strict enough with their children.
• Agreement does not vary by the age or gender of respondents.

Attitudes Towards Women and Families

68% of Canadians Agree Working Moms Can Establish a Warm and Secure Relationship With Children

Two-thirds (68%) of Canadians agree (26% strongly, 42% somewhat) that "an employed mother can establish just as warm and secure a relationship with her children as a mother who does not work for pay". Three-in-ten (31%) disagree either strongly (9%) or somewhat (22%).

• Agreement is higher among women (74%) than men (62%).
• As education level increases, so does agreement. Three quarters (75%) of university graduates agree compared to respondents with less than high school (58%), high school (64%) or post-secondary (70%) education.

56% Agree the Best Way for a Women to be Independent is to have a job outside of the Home.

A majority (56%) of Canadians agree (20% strongly, 36% somewhat) that "having a job is the best way for a woman to be an independent person". Four in ten (43%) disagree (11% strongly, 32% somewhat).

• Residents in Quebec (69%) are more likely than any other province (national average - 56%) to agree that a job is the best way for a woman to be independent.
• Responses do not vary according to gender.

39% Agree that What Most Women Want is a Home and Children

The majority (57%) of Canadians do not agree (17% strongly, 40% somewhat) with the statement "a job is all right, but what most women really want is a home and children". Four-in-ten (39%) agree (11% strongly, 28% somewhat).

• As education and income increase, agreement decreases. Respondents with less than high school education (67%) are significantly more likely than respondents with high school (48%), post-secondary (32%), or university (28%) education to agree that what most women really want is a home and children. This is consistent across income groups, as low income households earning less than $30,000 (51%) per year are more likely to agree than households earning $30,000 to $59,999 (41%) and $60,000 or more (29%) that a home and children is what most women want.
• Regionally, residents in Quebec (48%) report higher agreement than any of the other provinces (national average, 39%)
• As age increases, agreement increases. Respondents aged 55+ (58%) are more likely than 35-54 (35%) or 18-34 (29%) year olds to agree that a job is all right, but what women really want is a home and children.
• There is no variation along gender lines.

42% Agree: Families Would Be In Much Better Shape if Mothers Would Stay Home With Kids

The majority (56%) of Canadians disagree (19% strongly, 38% somewhat) that "families would be in much better shape these days if mothers would only stay home with their children". Four in ten agree with the statement (16% strongly, 26% somewhat).

• University graduates (69%) are more likely to disagree that 'mothers should stay at home' than respondents without high school (33%), high school (49%) or post-secondary education (60%).
• Disagreement is highest among high-income households (66% in 60K+ compared to 47% in households with less than $30K per year).
• As the age of respondents increase, so does agreement (18-34, 32%; 35-54, 40%; 55+, 57%).
• Regionally, Quebec has the highest level of agreement, with 47% agreeing that mothers should stay at home with their children, followed by British Columbia (44%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (44%).
• The majority of males (55%) and females (58%) disagree that mothers are better off at home with their children.

Attitudes Towards Raising Children

Do Parents Today Know What They are Doing When it Comes to Raising Children? 63% are Worried

Almost two-thirds (63%) of Canadians "worry about whether parents today really know what they are doing when it comes to raising children" - 35% are not worried.

• Disagreement is highest among respondents with household incomes of 60K+ per year (39%), and university graduates (40%).
• The level of agreement does not vary significantly across age groups.

62% of Canadians With Children Living at Home Are Worried They Are Not Raising Their Children Properly

Six-in-ten (62%) respondents with children living at home agree (23% strongly, 39% somewhat) with the statement "one of my biggest worries in my life is whether I am raising my children properly". Four in ten (37%) either disagree (28%) or strongly disagree (9%) with the statement.

• Low income households earning less than $30,000 per year (68%) are more likely than higher income households ($30K to $59K, 62%; $60K or more, 61%) to worry about whether they are raising their children properly.
• Agreement is higher among respondents aged 18-34 (70%) with children living at home than respondents aged 35-54 (59%) with children living at home.

Two-thirds Agree (68%) Day Care is Good for Children

Two-thirds (68%) of Canadians agree (18% strongly, 50% somewhat) that day care is good for children.

• More women (71%) than men (65%) agree that day care is good for children.
• Regionally, agreement is highest in Quebec (78%), followed by the Atlantic provinces (72%).

Attitudes Toward Potential Government Initiatives

32% Support Financial Assistance for Everyone with Children

Two-thirds (67%) of Canadians oppose the federal government "financially supporting every family with children, regardless of that family's income". One-third (32%) support the initiative.

• Support for the federal government initiative is highest among residents of Quebec (43% compared to the national average, 32%).
• Regionally, residents of Alberta (74%) and British Columbia (73%) are more likely than other provinces to oppose the initiative.

Three-quarters of Canadians Support Inexpensive Day Care Systems

Eight in ten (78%) Canadians support (48% strongly, 30% somewhat) the federal government "setting up an inexpensive day care system to all families who want it". Two-in-ten (21%) oppose either strongly (11%) or somewhat (10%).

• Support is highest among women (82%), residents in Atlantic provinces (87%) and respondents aged 18-34 (87%).

Three-quarters of Canadians Support Extended Parental Leave for One Yea

Three quarters (74%) of Canadians support (42% strongly, 32% somewhat) the federal government "extending paid parental leave for new parents to ONE year".

• Regionally, the strongest support for this initiative is in Quebec (81%), followed by Atlantic (76%) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba (75%).

Public Split on Extended Parental Leave for Two Years

Half (49%) of Canadians support and the other half (50%) do not support the federal government "extending paid parental leave for new parents to TWO years".

• Regionally, the strongest support is in Quebec (57%), significantly higher than the national average (49%).

• Six-in-ten Support Encouraging One Parent to Stay Home

Six in ten (60%) Canadians support the federal government "doing everything possible to encourage one parent to stay home". Four-in-ten (40%) are not supportive.

• Support is highest in the Atlantic Provinces (69%), among women (62%), and respondents aged 55+ (67%).

58% Do Not Support Encouraging Both Parents to Work for Pay

The majority (58%) of Canadians do not support the federal government "doing everything possible to encourage both parents to work for pay". 41% support the initiative.

Stress

Up to 60% of Canadians Report Signs of Stress

The majority of Canadians have reported experiencing at least one sign of stress in the past six months (60% report experiencing irritability, 49% sleep disturbances, and 43% inability to concentrate).

• Women report experiencing more stress-related symptoms than men. Irritability (63% women, 57% men), sleep disturbances (53% women, 44% men) and inability to concentrate (45% women, 40% men) were the top three signs of stress reported by both men and women
. Respondents with children living at home report experiencing more signs of stress than respondents with no children living at home.

One-in-Ten Using Medication to Control Depression

One in ten (10%) Canadians report they have taken medication to control depression over the past two years.

• Women (13%) were more likely than men (7%) to report taking antidepressants in the past two years.
• As household income increases, respondents reporting usage of medication for depression decreases. Seventeen of respondents in lower income households ($30K) report taking antidepressants, compared to 7% of respondents in higher income households ($60K or more).

For further information contact:

Natalie Lacey
Vice-President, Public Affairs
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900

The Angus Reid Group is Canada's largest and most well-known Canadian research company. Established in 1979 by Dr. Angus Reid, the company serves 1200 clients via its six offices in Canada, four offices in the United States and its European office in London, England. With a complement of 250 full time qualitative and quantitative researchers, the company has annual revenues of $65 million and is growing at an average rate of 30 percent per year. The employee-owned company also operates its own field service entity, Direct Reid, utilizing 450 CATI (computer-assisted telephone interviewing) stations for North American calling and a 50,000 household consumer panel in Canada.