Families cutting back, third of children tell survey

by Mr007 on Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:54 am

Child with shopping trolley [Thinkstock] Many young people surveyed said they had felt the effects of the economic downturn
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A third of 11 to 16-year-olds say their families have cut back on spending amid the economic downturn, according to a BBC survey about UK young people.

Crime topped the list of personal fears of the young people surveyed, while terrorism and climate change were their biggest global concerns.

Most respondents had internet access at home, 67% had it on a mobile phone.

More than 24,000 pupils in more than 300 schools participating in the BBC's School Report programme were surveyed.

The survey, carried out by the Royal Statistical Society Centre for Statistical Education (RSSCSE) at the University of Plymouth, was one of the biggest of its kind.

The young people were asked a wide range of questions about their home lives, school experiences and views on current affairs.

The results, published three days before national Census Day, showed that 33% of those surveyed said their families had had to cut back on spending because of problems in the economy - while one in five had had less money spent on their Christmas presents in 2010, and 32% knew someone who had lost their job.
Teenagers using a phone [Image: Thinkstock] Text messages were the top communication method among the young people surveyed

When respondents were asked to identify up to three of the biggest dangers they faced, 53% listed crime, 50% said alcohol and drugs and 35% said terrorism.

On a similar question regarding threats to the world, terrorism topped the list (59%), followed by climate change (49%) and nuclear weapons (42%).

Technology featured highly in the young people's responses.

Some 3% of those surveyed said they did not have a mobile phone, and 2% did not have a computer.

And 13% of respondents said they never helped in their families to use the internet - 60% said they helped find website, while 48% said they had helped them send e-mails.
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