Generational Divide: While Almost All (93%) Of Parents Say They're "Most Responsible" For Ensuring Healthy Youth, Only Half (53%) of Nation's Youth Agree
Ottawa, ON - As part of the 2007 Child Health Summit sponsored by the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Paediatric Society and the College of Family Physicians, an Ipsos-Reid study finds that 93% of Canadian parents say that they are most responsible for ensuring that Canadian children are healthy. However, Canadian youth between the ages of 10 and 17 do not entirely share this view, and feel that responsibility for healthy youth is shared between parents (53%) and themselves (43%).
These are the findings of an Ipsos-Reid poll conducted between March 30th and April 8th, 2007 with 1,107 Canadian parents of children under 18 yrs, and 631 children/youth between the ages of 10 years and
A New Generation Gap...
The study illustrates a potential disparity between parents, children and youth on the practice and perceptions of healthy living within the family unit:
- 60% of parents say that at least once a week the family participates in a common physical activity, vs. 27% of children/youth who say they do (a 33 point gap).
- 54% of parents say that their children (under the age of 18) eat at least the daily minimum of 4 servings of fruit and vegetables every day, vs. 23% of youth between the ages of 10 and 17 who say that they eat at least the daily minimum of 6 servings of fruit and vegetables every day (a 31 point gap).
- 78% of parents say that their children spend less than 2 hours a day on the Internet, vs. 57% of children/youth who say they do (a 21 point gap).
- 69% of parents say that they limit how much time their children spend on watching TV, vs. 51% of children/youth who say their time spent watching TV is limited (an 18 point gap)
- 89% of parents say their children/youth eat breakfast each day, vs. 72% of children/youth who say they do (a 17 point gap).
- 52% of parents say that their children are physically active at least 4 days a week, vs. 40% of children/youth who say they do (a 12 point gap).
- 88% of parents say that their family eats one meal per day together as a family, vs. 78% of children/youth who say they do (a 10 point gap).
- 36% of parents say that their children watch at least 2 hours of TV each day, vs. 42% of children/youth who say they do (a 6 point gap).
Do As I Say...?
Further, the findings suggest that in practice, parents may have to do a reality check on being a healthy role model for their children:
Although the above findings show the disparities between parents, children and youth on healthy living practices, the findings also speak to their experiences at school, including some troubling issues for Canadian youth today:
- 11% of under-aged youth say they sometimes drink alcohol, while 6% say they sometimes smoke.
- Only 20% of youth say they are getting at least nine hours of sleep a day.
- Just half (51%) of youth say that they feel very safe their school.
- 70% of youth say that they often or sometimes feel anxious or stressed due to peer pressure or intimidation.
For more information on this press release, please contact:
Mike Colledge
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid Public Affairs
(613) 241-5802
[email protected] For full tabular results, please visit our website www.ipsos.ca. News Releases are available at: http://www.ipsos-na.com/news/.
About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.
To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.
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