Publication type
Report
Author
Publication date
September 15, 2022
Summary:
The last few years have been challenging for everyone and the pandemic has reaffirmed the importance of family and relying on their support during difficult times. Now, more than ever, it is vital that we understand, celebrate, and appreciate the importance of family in everyone’s lives, especially children.
We know that if children have happy and supportive families, they are more likely to succeed later-on in life. They are more likely to have healthy relationships. They are more likely to have happy lives.
Our research has produced unique and comprehensive insight into family life today, drawing on novel qualitative and quantitative data and analysis.
The research shows it’s more about the quality of family relationships than the composition or relative position of the family in society. It’s about strong and lasting relationships, relying on each other, and spending time together. And believing you could rely on family in time of crisis is associated with significantly higher overall well-being. Family can insulate us from the harshness of difficult times and so looking into the short term, and long term, we must protect it and support it in whatever ways we can.
This ground-breaking research has provided us with a deep understanding what families look like. Their experience of family influences and impacts every part of their lives, inside and outside of the family home. For children it shapes their future. This is why, the Government needs to prioritise how they can put families at the heart of all of policy decisions. This is the moment to make a difference in every family’s life.
Subjects
Link
Notes
Children's Commissioner Family Review
References: Benzeval, M., Burton, J., Crossley, T.F., Fisher, P., Jäckle, A., Perelli-Harris, B., and Walzenbach, S. (2020) 'Briefing note COVID-19 survey: family relationships', Understanding Society Working Paper Series, No. 2020-13. Colchester: University of Essex. Institute for Social and Economic Research ; Perelli-Harris, B. and Walzenbach, S. (2020) 'How has the Covid-19 crisis impacted parents’ relationships with their children?', CPC Policy Briefings, No. 54. Southampton: ESRC Centre for Population Change ; Rabindrakumar, S. (2018) 'Family portrait: single parent families and transitions over time'. Sheffield: University of Sheffield.
Related Publications
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Additional analysis annex to ‘Family and its protective effect: part 1 of the independent family review’
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