Poll Reports

3 in 4 parents are concerned about the impact of air quality problems on their child’s health. 2 in 3 parents report poor or unhealthy air quality in their area, most often related to wildfires. Among parents reporting poor air quality in their area, 1 in 5 believe it affected their child’s health.

Top parental concerns center on children’s and teens’ use of devices and social media. Over half of parents rate mental health issues as a big problem. Parents in low-income households rate more issues as a big problem for children and teens.

Over half of parents do not have a portal for their child. Among parents who have a portal for their child, 1 in 3 have used it to get advice about their child’s illness or injury. Among parents whose teen has a portal, 1 in 3 have noticed differences in their ability to access their teen’s health information.

1 in 6 parents report their child complains about belly pain at least once a month. Among parents whose child frequently complains about belly pain, 2 in 5 have not talked with the child’s doctor. 1 in 3 parents are very confident they can tell when their child’s belly pain may be a sign of a serious problem.

Half of parents have used pre-owned equipment for their child, while 4 in 5 have donated or sold pre-owned equipment. 2 in 3 parents feel it is hard to tell whether pre-owned equipment is safe for their child. Half of parents are comfortable only with pre-owned equipment shared by family or close friends.

Parents cite logistical factors (schedule, convenience) as top factors in deciding whether a job is appropriate for their teen. Among parents of teens with a formal job, nearly half report their teen has experienced workplace problems. Less than 1 in 3 parents feel very informed about state laws for teen employment.

Vaping is hard to detect, yet half of parents think they would definitely know if their child was vaping. 4 of 5 parents think their child understands the health risks of vaping. About half of parents support suspension from school or school activities if their child was caught vaping at school.

9 in 10 parents agree that running a low-grade fever helps a child’s body fight off infection. 2 in 3 parents are very confident they know whether their child needs medication to reduce fever. 1 in 3 parents would give fever-reducing medication for elevated temperature below 100.4°.

Nearly half of parents schedule well visits with their child’s regular provider even if they have a long wait for an appointment. 1 in 3 parents believe their child is more likely to follow advice if it comes from a provider their child knows well. 3 in 4 parents recall the provider giving feedback on questionnaires completed about their child’s health and behavior.

9 in 10 parents think teens can believe in God or a higher power without being involved in organized religion. Only 1 in 3 parents say their teen attends religious services regularly. 3 in 4 parents believe participating in religious services helps teens connect with their family history and traditions.