New study shows children fear environmental disaster

June 2007: A report tracking Australian children’s attitudes and concerns about childhood

Outcomes of the study

Our report, released in the lead up to Childhood Hero Day Thursday 14 June, has revealed that Australian children are deeply concerned about the state of the environment and the impact of climate change.

Dr Joe Tucci, CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation, said “Children’s sense of their place in the world is under threat. Children are nervous about global problems and the implications for the future they are faced with.

“It is often said that children and young people live in the here and now with little regard for the future. These findings clearly challenge this popular notion.”

The report also revealed that more than a third of children were anxious about terrorism, were worried about having to fight in a war and one in four believed the world will end before they reach adulthood.

“Children’s sense of their community and themselves is also under threat. More than half worry about being teased and bullied. 1 in 10 are concerned about being called names because of their culture or nationality. There is a real crisis in confidence in children with 4 in 10 feeling that they never do well enough and a large number worried about the way they look (41%),” continued Dr Tucci.

In the lead up to the Foundation’s annual fundraiser Childhood Hero Day on Thursday 14 June, the report highlights children’s need for every day heroes, like their parents, who offer an important buffer to their fears and concerns.

“90% of children enjoy spending time with their parents and most Aussie kids nominate their hero as either Mum or Dad. It’s important that all Australians recognise that children’s concerns for their future are real and adults, in turn, should listen to them.”

Summary of key findings

Broader global issues

  • 31% of children are worried they will have to fight in a war one day
  • 27% of children fear being a victim of crime one day

Self confidence & body image

  • 46% do not feel confident about themselves
  • 57% of children worry about what other people think of them
  • 41% of children do not ever feel like they are doing well enough
  • 47% of children worry about the way they look
  • 35% of children worry about being overweight
  • 16% of children worry about being too skinny

Peer relationships & bullying

  • 57% children concerned about being teased
  • 54% concerned about not fitting in with friends
  • 52% concerned about being bullied
  • 40% concerned about making friends
  • 10% children worry about being called names because of culture or nationality
  • 8% of children worry about being called names because of their religion

Experiences of adults

  • 51% of children feel children their age are not welcome in shops and cafes
  • 41% of children believe that adults don’t show respect for young people
  • 36% of children believe that adults don’t care about what young people think

Treatment by the media

  • 88% of children feel companies try to sell them things they don’t need
  • 85% of children feel there is a lot of pressure to buy things like games music and clothes
  • 74% of children believe there should be less advertising aimed at children

The results are published in a report by Tucci, J., Mitchell, J. and Goddard, C. (2007). Children’s fears, hopes and heroes – Modern Childhood in Australia tracking Australian children’s attitudes and concerns about childhood. Australian Childhood Foundation and the National Research Centre for the Prevention of Child Abuse at Monash University.

The online study was undertaken by Quantum Market Research with a nationally representative sample of 600 children and young people aged between 10-14 years.

 

Download full 2007 report .pdf >>

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