Published by the National Family and Parenting Institute to mark the tenth anniversary of the United Nations' International Year of the Family, UKFamily Trends 1994-2004 draws on a wide range of sources from the past ten years, including major research, long-term studies and population census data, to provide an overview of the changing dynamics of family life.
Author and NFPI research fellow Helen Barrett said, 'This report underlines how complex are the patterns of family life in the UK and how much our families have changed in recent years. It is clear that mothers and fathers say they are finding the task of parenting difficult.'
Women's roles have 'shifted dramatically', she said, and achieving a work/life balance is a 'sizeable challenge'. As increasing numbers of women with young children go out to work, men's roles are also changing.
'We work the longest hours in Europe and it tends to be fathers with young children. Men feel perplexed about what is expected of them. They throw a lot of energy into earning, but they are also expected to be hands-on dads.
I think they're getting pulled in both directions,' she added.
The report looks at demographic changes; the role of mothers and how work may affect their relationships with children; the role of fathers; changing relationships between parents and children; effects of external factors such as technology and marketing; and relationships between the family and support networks.
UK Family Trends 1994-2004 costs 18, plus postage and packing, from NFPI Publications on 01787 249 287.
