AOK study Every fifth child is ill

Study: Occupational stress on parents weighs on the whole family

07/03/2014

Every fifth child in Germany has health problems. That resulted „family study“ the AOK as part of the initiative „Healthy Children - Healthy Future "1,503 mothers and fathers were interviewed about their and their children's health, so children often suffer from abdominal pain, irritability, headache, nervousness, difficulty falling asleep, being unwell, back pain and drowsiness or dizziness.

The study also found that children's health problems often cause problems at school and daycare, as well as disadvantages in social and psychological adaptation. „While 55 percent of healthy children have been coping well lately, only 39 percent of those who are at risk of health are " „family study“. The health insurance company calls the time stress of many parents as one of the main causes of their children's health problems.

Children of very satisfied parents are less likely to be ill
As the study showed, the susceptibility of children to disease is largely determined by the family climate. Children of parents who are very happy with their family life are less likely to be ill. This is also confirmed by the figures: 19 percent of the children of very satisfied parents have health complaints, while the dissatisfied mothers and fathers are 35 percent. „If parents are dissatisfied with their family life, the likelihood that their children are at risk is twice as high, "the authors conclude.

„Our study shows how important the health of the parents and a relaxed family life are for a healthy growing up of the children. Child health depends directly on the parents welfare. Parents themselves, but also society should take this message into account ", comments AOK boss Jürgen Graalmann the study result.

In the survey for the „family study“ 67 percent of parents said that they feel good or very good. Nevertheless, the evaluation shows that a large proportion of parents are more often ill. Forty percent of mothers and fathers complained about their health and 22 percent said they occasionally suffer from health problems that negatively affect their work or other activities. „Eighteen percent complain that they have always or often had such difficulties over the past four weeks, "the authors report, notably single parents who are affected by health problems, and a good 30 percent have a high susceptibility to disease, which is unsurprising, „that single parents feel much more burdened with time and money than parents in couples. Accordingly, single parents complain more often about strong mental stress“, states in the study. Compared to single parents, parents in couple families are therefore clearly in the advantage.

Time stress of parents affects children's health
About one fifth of parents said they had mental health problems. Of these, however, only seven percent of respondents in the previous four weeks „always or frequently "adversely affects work or family life" Stress is the main cause of mental illness in most families, according to the study: 24 percent of children of parents with high levels of stress suffer from disease symptoms.

Many parents said they had too little time for the family. „For example, 81 percent of respondents say it would be particularly helpful if they had more free time with their partner. 90 percent want more free time / vacation and 93 percent more time with the family“, The authors confess. 38 percent of respondents want more time for themselves.

In most cases, the job is a more relaxed time planning in the way. Thus, the fixed working hours are often the cause of the time stress. According to the study, parents are most satisfied when they can freely classify their work and work in the home office. „Of the unaffected parents, a significantly larger proportion has the option of home office, "the study said. „At the same time, it shows that parents who are not well off their health have significantly more frequent partners who are tied to fixed working hours or often have to do weekend work. "

Professor Ulrike Ravens-Sieberer from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) explains that flexible working hours have a positive effect. „Parents who work flexibly in terms of time and place often feel healthier. Also important is the availability of a social network and reliable child care, especially by family members ", says the expert.

Overall, according to the study's parents, however, it is better than in the year 2010. Burdens such as financial worries would have decreased. This also affects the children's health. „Parents shape the living environment of their children and are a role model and first contact in matters of health ", summarizes Graalmann.