Mission Australia's National survey of young Australians 2008
Body image, drugs and family conflict are the top three issues of concern among young people, according to Mission Australia's seventh National survey of young Australians, released on 25 November 2008.
More than 45,000 young Australians aged 11 to 24 took part in this year's survey, the highest number of respondents since the survey began in 2001. As well as being asked to rank their level of concern for 15 key issues, respondents were asked about what they valued, who they turned to for advice and support, the types of activities in which they were involved, and which people or organisations they most admired. Demographic information was also recorded.
When asked to rank their level of concern about 15 issues, young people most frequently named body image among their top three issues, closely followed by drugs and family conflict. In comparison with findings from last year's survey, the 2008 findings indicate an overall increase in the proportion of young people who listed drugs in their top three concerns – from one in five respondents in 2007 to one in four respondents in 2008. This increase in concern about drugs was most notable among the 11 to 14 age group, who were twice as likely as 20- to 24-year-olds to identify it as a major issue (31.2% compared with 16.6%).
Selected findings from national results
(top 5 responses for each item):
What young people value:
(figure indicates the proportion of respondents who ranked this item in their top three)
|
Family relationships |
75.3% |
|
Friendships (other than family) |
62.3% |
|
Physical and mental health |
31.8% |
|
Being independent |
31.7% |
|
Feeling needed and valued |
26.2% |
Issues of concern to young people:
(figure indicates the proportion of respondents who ranked this item in their top three)
|
Body image |
26.3% |
|
Drugs |
26.0% |
|
Family conflict |
25.9% |
|
Suicide |
24.6% |
|
Personal safety |
22.9% |
Where young people turn for advice and support:
(figure indicates the proportion of respondents who ranked this item in their top three)
|
Friends |
85.1% |
|
Parents |
74.1% |
|
Relative/family friend |
61.0% |
|
Internet |
20.3% |
|
School counsellor |
11.5% |
Activities young people were involved in:
|
|
Number |
% |
|
Sports (as a participant) |
30,782 |
67.6 |
|
Sports (as a spectator) |
21,189 |
46.5 |
|
Arts/cultural (e.g. drama, music, dance) |
20,072 |
44.1 |
|
Youth groups and clubs |
12,199 |
26.8 |
|
Religious |
11,800 |
25.9 |
People and organisations that young people admire:
|
|
Number |
% |
|
Family |
31,096 |
30.2 |
|
Friends |
18,233 |
17.7 |
|
Sports teams, players and coaches |
6,928 |
6.7 |
|
Entertainers |
6,341 |
6.2 |
|
International aid organisations |
6,022 |
5.8 |
The report on the survey contains a summary of the national results (broken down by age and gender), as well as a summary of results from each state and territory, and a chapter comparing findings from Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people.
The report can be downloaded as a PDF from the Mission Australia website: http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/document-downloads/cat_view/34-social-policy-reports
Source:
Mission Australia 2008, National survey of young Australians 2008: Key and emerging issues, Mission Australia, viewed 26 November 2008, http://missionaustralia.com.au/document-downloads/doc_details/92-national-survey-of-young-australians-2008
Mission Australia 2008, Drugs a growing concern for young Australians, media release, 25 November, Mission Australia, viewed 26 November 2008, http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/news/media-releases/862-drugs-a-growing-concern-for-young-australians