Poll Reports

Adults rate childhood obesity, bullying and drug abuse at the top of the list of big health problems for kids across the U.S. Internet safety rises to the 4th biggest child health concern, up from 8th in 2014.  Sexting rises to #6 on the list of biggest health concerns, up from 13th in 2014.

34% of parents think vaccines have more benefit than they did one year ago. 25% of parents believe vaccines are safer than they were one year ago. 35% of parents report more support for daycare and school vaccine requirements than one year ago.
 

33% of adults in the U.S. have heard of powdered alcohol. Over 80% of adults believe powdered alcohol will increase the use of alcohol by underage youth. 60% of adults in the U.S. favor bans on the sale of powdered alcohol.

Over 60% parents would definitely talk with the doctor if their school-age child were extremely sad for more than a month. Only half would definitely discuss temper tantrums or anxiety, and just over one third would discuss trouble organizing schoolwork.

10% of U.S. adults either have a medical marijuana card or know someone who does. 36% of adults agree that their state should allow medical marijuana for children under 18. 80% of respondents agree that adults should not be allowed to use medical marijuana in the presence of children.

Over half of mothers and one-third of fathers discuss parenting on social media. Parents say social media is most useful for making them feel they are not alone (72%). Three-quarters of parents point to “oversharenting” by another parent.

Half of parents with teens whose schools currently start before 8:30 a.m. would support a school start time of 8:30 or later. 40% of parents believe their teens would get more sleep if school started at 8:30 a.m. or later. 22% of parents say having a start time of 8:30 a.m. or later would not allow enough time for after school activities.

1 in 7 parents whose children did not play middle or high school sports in 2013-14 cited cost as the reason for not participating. Only 30% of lower-income parents report their child participates in middle or high school sports, compared to 51% of higher-income parents.

Two-thirds of parents believe teens should shift to adult-focused care by age 18; only one-third do so. Less than one-half of parents of 18- to 19-year-olds believe their teens know how to make a doctor’s appointment. Parents are least confident about their teens’ self-management related to knowing what their health insurance covers.

Three-quarters of parents think daycare providers should check vaccination records every year. Two-thirds of parents think they should be informed of the number of children at the daycare center who are not up-to date on vaccines. 41% of parents support a policy to exclude undervaccinated kids from daycare until they become up-to-date.