Children’s sleep patterns concern

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

LACK of sleep has been identified as the leading concern for parents of children aged under 17, according to a State of the Nation Parenting Survey.

The survey canvassing the views of 1200 parents throughout the country (including step-parents, guardians, and caregivers with children 17 years or younger) was carried out by global measurement and data analytics company, Nielsen, in association with health insurer, nib New Zealand.

Among all respondents, sleep (31 percent) was identified as the main health concern having an impact on their child/children. Diet and exercise (29 percent) along with mental health (25 percent) were identified by parents as the most prominent health concerns following sleep.

Other top health concerns highlighted by parents included:

— Dental health (22 percent)

— Child behavioural issues (21 percent)

— Viral infections (16 percent)

— Immunisations (12 percent).

Gaps in support, for the following child health concerns, were identified: sleep, diet and exercise, mental health and child behavioural issues.

The main area in which parents felt they lacked the level of support needed for their children’s health concerns was sleep — 40 percent of parents noted that there is either no support available in their area or they do not know where to access this support.

— Almost half (44 percent) of parents place less priority on their own health than they do on their children’s health.

— 54 percent of Maori parents place less priority on their own health than they do their children’s health.

— 55 percent of Asian parents, and 59 percent of parents aged 55 plus are more likely to place equal priority on their health.

— 36 percent of those who don’t place equal priority on their health identified the cost of healthcare for those aged 18 plus as the main reason for this.

Over one in four parents (26 percent) with health insurance, reported their main motivation as being that they don’t want to wait on the public health system or can choose their specialist/doctor in the event of something happening.,xxsidebarxx