These are the main concerns of parents: the Family Barometer

It seems that being a father is synonymous with living worried, right? There are too many dangers (real or unfounded) that happen every day near our children. Specifically, what most concerns Spanish parents is the use of alcohol in children, the use of internet and social networks and departure times.

These are the conclusions of Family Barometer, a study conducted by Gad3 for The Family Watch from 600 telephone surveys. In it, there is no doubt about what is most worrying to Spanish parents: 90 percent of the respondents (practically all) referred to the consumption of alcohol in children as something that took away their sleep.

Very close to this was the use of Internet as something harmful, indicated by 82.5 percent of the respondents. In addition, eight out of ten have mentioned the abuse of Social networks as one of their main concerns, followed by the departure times of the minor children, which concerns 77.3 percent of the parents surveyed.

Is more alcohol consumed?

The respondents are very concerned about the alcohol because, according to the results of this barometer, most have the impression that there is currently more alcohol consumption among children than a decade ago (81.5%). It is not the only thing they see worse: more than half think that young people also consume more pornography and 51% say that they also consume more tobacco.

Looking at the results of this work we can see a generation of pessimistic parents: the majority (62.5 percent) affirmed that with respect to a decade ago, there is now less communication within the families, which from The Family Watch relate to the rest of the problems.

"The main variable that explains the higher consumption of alcohol among minors, unwanted pregnancies or harassment among minors is directly related to the dialogue of the children with their parents," said the president of Gad3, Narciso Michavila.

The responsibility of parents

The parents are aware of their responsibilities towards the education of their children. It is therefore not surprising that nine out of ten respondents believe that they should be more strict with alcohol consumption. Likewise, for more than 80% of respondents, parents should also become more serious with the use of internet and social networks and 77.3% think that they would have to be more strict in the times of arrival at home.

On the reasons for the alarm with Internet has also asked the survey, which has found that the vast majority of respondents believe that social networks "are allowing more anonymous harassment", "have reduced the respect for the privacy of others " and they are sexualizing in excess the relations between minors ".

That is why practically all parents (97.2%) recognize that they should "be more attentive to possible harassment through social networks" of their children underage, "ensure the privacy" of the same in this area (96.5%), control more Internet access in the home (94.3%) and control more the use they make of the mobile (93%).

Mobile phones and children

The dangers of social networks are also given, in part, by the infinite access via mobile. In this line, the survey asks parents at what age they bought a mobile phone to their children or from what years they think it would be appropriate to do so. The result? The 15 years, an age that Michavila has pointed out, is above the average thrown by most studies, 13 years.

The study concludes with another concern: 40.4% of those who are responsible for buying clothes for their children consider that the current system of sizing Influences them negatively, which can lead to food problems.

Damián Montero