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Youth worried about relationships, not money: survey

Posted July 25, 2008 08:47:00

A new survey has found young Australians are much more concerned about their personal relationships but less worried about money than they were two decades ago.

The Australian United Nations Youth Association surveyed more than 12,000 people aged between 12 and 24 as part of the Federal Government-funded YouthSpeak project.

It asked them to rank nine areas of concern and compared the results to a survey from 1986.

Back then, only 8 per cent chose personal and family relationships as their biggest concern.

But the project's coordinator, Natalie Garcia de Heer, says it is now the most popular response.

"Family and personal relationships came out as the number one [concern] for 31 per cent of participants, so that was hugely, hugely important to them," he said.

The survey also found the proportion of participants who were most concerned about a lack of money fell from 25 to 14 per cent.

Tags: family-and-children, youth-issues, family, relationships, australia

Comments (48)

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  • Gary W:

    25 Jul 2008 10:14:00am

    Good for them. Relationships are going to be far more important than "money" in the post-oil post-industrial world.

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      • John R:

        25 Jul 2008 10:38:27am

        The possible corollary from the article is that this concern has come about because young people now have more problems in this area than they did before - and hence it is an indicator that these relationships are getting worse.

        Alternatively, it may just be that as a society we are much wealthier now, and hence money isn't so important for security anymore.

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          • Jacko:

            25 Jul 2008 10:54:06am

            Yes I agree, I was a youth back in the mid 80s and after school I remember worrying about whether there was any chance I'd ever get a job. I think youth unemployment back then was around 20% or something (as opposed to overall unemployment). Nowdays there are plenty of jobs so I think that money is less of a worry.

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              • Remark:

                25 Jul 2008 12:35:47pm

                Jacko wrote:

                "I was a youth back in the mid 80s ... youth unemployment back then was around 20% or something"

                You were a "victim" of demographics. You reached maturity, entering a workforce with plenty of peer competition for jobs.

                You can thank your parents - and the parents of your peers - for all deciding to have babies at around the same time!

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          • vm:

            25 Jul 2008 12:33:53pm

            John, agree with you.
            Trained into bullies by our appalling education system most of young people now have no idea how to build relations and tolerate difference.

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              • Steve:

                25 Jul 2008 1:48:06pm

                I love how every story's comments involving youth eventually declines into 'these young people today...' comments.

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      • Peter O:

        25 Jul 2008 1:34:04pm

        It would seem to me the most important relationship the youth of today have is with their mobile phones.

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  • Az:

    25 Jul 2008 10:18:02am

    There's hope for the future yet.

    Could this be a reaction to the pathetic, material driven ideologies of Generation Greed? (The Babyboomers)

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      • st:

        25 Jul 2008 10:27:36am

        Nah.
        When their babyboomer parents provide everything for them why would they be concerned about money?

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          • Az:

            25 Jul 2008 10:58:25am

            "When their babyboomer parents provide everything for them why would they be concerned about money?"

            They don't. That's my point.

            The Babyboomer's parents were obsessed with passing on inter-generational wealth. Babyboomers are just obsessed with spending it.

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      • Adsama:

        25 Jul 2008 10:29:41am

        Of course, once the baby boomers pass on they we'll inherit all their monies so no need to worry about it.
        Besides were a morally declining society so guess what we're after.... and sexpo is on this week

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      • jimbo:

        25 Jul 2008 10:40:53am

        Az baby boomers provided the nice lifestyles we enjoy. Hindsight is wonderful thing.

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          • Jess:

            25 Jul 2008 11:30:26am

            lucky you...the only thing that my baby boomer parents are leaving me is debt, and lets face it, the government is not going to give the next generations a pension or retirement fund. so maybe, could it be, that we do see relationships as important because they are?

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              • jezza:

                25 Jul 2008 12:57:32pm

                Maybe you shouldn't expect your baby boomer parents to leave you anything! Maybe you should be looking after yourself. Saving that - perhaps marrying well might help.

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      • rumtytum:

        25 Jul 2008 12:02:49pm

        Az:
        Such swashbuckling generalisations! How certain you are of yourself. Far more certain than the baby boomer generation, whose parents had lived, in many cases, through not just one but two world wars and a massive depression and were determined to try to make up for the awful past in every way they could. All the baby boomers I know lavished absurd amounts of money on their children. Now they watch kids go into child care at 2 months of age, both parents working, families splintering and they wonder what all this work and money is for. What use is a house with 8 bathrooms and a gigantic plasma TV that sends email to your frig if you're heading for the nursing home? You're dead a long time Az. I hope you use your time alive wisely and enjoy it deeply. And remember, certainty is the enemy of education.

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          • Az:

            25 Jul 2008 1:22:42pm

            "What use is a house with 8 bathrooms and a gigantic plasma TV that sends email to your frig if you're heading for the nursing home?"

            Funny, Rumy. That's exactly what I've been wondering. But you left out the 4WD with oversized caravan. Those grey nomads must be burning their kids inheritance even faster now.

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  • macca:

    25 Jul 2008 10:23:29am

    interesting stuff. This probably reflects a number of factors in contemporary society, but my number 1 guess is that young people are not moving out of home as early as they used to, and in general, are "settling down" later than 20 years ago.

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  • Mark:

    25 Jul 2008 10:23:52am

    This could be because a lot of the youth today have grown up not having to worry to much about money anyway. On average (per OECD data) Australians have had some of the best economic conditions in the world over the past decade.

    Just a thought.

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      • Greg h:

        25 Jul 2008 11:53:49am

        Agreed, the current young generation have not experienced a recession or a big slowdown, they have not experienced youth unemployment which plagued the society before.

        They have grown up in a age of plenty and they are heavily dependent on others(their parents, govt etc).

        No wonder they dont seem to care about monetary issues.

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          • chalkie:

            25 Jul 2008 1:54:41pm

            When rent is so absurdly high, HECs burdening them from the start and often fragile work security, it is not wimpish softness forcing gen Y to stay at home.

            I know 2 people - well into their 20s - living in their parents' garages because they just cannot live any other way. Both had rented but could not make ends meet.

            Intergenerational theft of opportunity is the silent gorilla in this discussion room.

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  • Skeptical:

    25 Jul 2008 10:24:49am

    This is a good report. I am actually pretty impressed by the Australian Youth of today - despite the GenY stereotyping. They have certainly grown up in, and taken advantage of, a very different eviron to previous generations.
    Good on them.
    I hope they too can leave the world a better place for future generations. The focus on relationships is a good start.

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      • John R:

        25 Jul 2008 10:57:01am

        This all comes down to whether the concern is on account of valuing these things more, or wither the concern is on account having greater problem in this area.

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  • Pen Pal:

    25 Jul 2008 10:40:24am

    This survey only comes up with this result because the majority of the youth today don't have to worry about money, as it's provided on demand (or voluntarily) by their parents.

    If they're living at home, get them out and into a part time job and get them to fund themselves - we have and boy - oh - boy, what a change has occurred.

    Let me say here that the focus is now back on money and "bugger" relationships!

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      • Tom:

        25 Jul 2008 11:08:12am

        So are you proud of yourself to have made your child more money obsessed and less caring about relationships? Bravo!

        Parents need to think ahead - if they treat their children like this, then they can only expect the same lack of love when they are elderly, frail and sick.

        Look to the asian and european societies, and you will find much more respect for the elderly. Here people think 'out of sight out of mind', and dump them in a nursing home.

        Best of luck to you Pen Pal!

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  • dragon:

    25 Jul 2008 10:47:53am

    Oh Boo Hoo !
    We spend way too much time listening to the INEXPERIENCED youth of today. Maybe it's time for them to sit down and listen to adults for a change !

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      • Ford:

        25 Jul 2008 10:59:33am

        Yes, what is it that the adults are saying?
        Consume! Pollute! War!
        Bored with that message...next please!

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          • vm:

            25 Jul 2008 12:37:38pm

            Grog, drugs, sex, rock, violence, disrespect and BB to change the world
            Good luck.

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              • Steve:

                25 Jul 2008 1:50:55pm

                Resorting to stereotypes doesn't actually make you right.

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      • Andrew:

        25 Jul 2008 11:10:18am

        Dragon, the youth were commenting on both family and relationships... maybe adults are too focused or stressed by the demands of earning double incomes or maintaining affluent lifestyles and it's the family relationships that are suffering... older does not necessarily mean wiser....

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          • konradurs:

            25 Jul 2008 11:58:19am

            Oh the double-income setup of society is pretty stupid.
            Ingrained in the culture now but very stupid.
            No wonder no kids are born anymore. We're all so busily chasing dollars that everything else pales to zero

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              • chalkie:

                25 Jul 2008 2:00:30pm

                yep, wanting to have a house AND food is pretty selfish.

                I doubt there is a capital city that has houses affordable for one median income. In fact, probably all but the fringes are affordable for even 2 median incomes. Teacher peers of mine - modest spenders, too - anguish over the time they can afford for expectant mum to take maternity leave. The $360 000 mortgage that bought the cheapish Brisbane house miles from the city just doesn't leave much room to manouevre.

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      • what...:

        25 Jul 2008 11:24:06am

        being that australia IS a wealthy country, us youth's find it easier to find work, record employment levels with increasing pay rates, along with tax cuts have made money for us "inexperiaced youth."

        yet i myself as an "inexperianced youth being in my early 20's" am smart with my money, purchase my first house, 2 new cars, one for me and one for my wife, working in a great job which covers all my bills' and mortgage, so i dont see money as a problem, as it is easier to come by.

        i would rather spend time on building beter relationships with my friends and family, than have more money as we have a relatively comfortable life.

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      • MT:

        25 Jul 2008 11:28:36am

        Do we really?

        I dont see much listening going on. Where and when do we listen to youth?

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      • _jase:

        25 Jul 2008 11:59:31am

        When you have something worthwhile to say, give me a call. Age doesn't equal knowledge.

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          • The Beverage:

            25 Jul 2008 1:45:48pm

            I'd have to disagree with you. Age does not equal intelligence, yes. But it does equal knowledge. Life experience does translate to an better understanding of how the world turns.

            Think about yourself. Four years ago, did you everything about life you know now? I doubt it. I find myself looking back as little as 6 months and thinking how inexperienced I was then. That doesnt stop happening, regardless of how old you are. The longer you live, the more you learn. (of course there are exceptions)

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  • konradurs:

    25 Jul 2008 11:14:25am

    Good for the young,
    After all, dating is getting harder than ever.
    Traditional families have been under siege for a while too.
    So personal and family relationships should always be top of concerns.
    Loved ones are the real currency of gold!

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  • Kocsonya:

    25 Jul 2008 11:37:24am

    Focus shifted from money to relationships.

    Now it can be because money was a big issue back then but is no problem any more or because the relationship between parents and children was pretty OK back then but has worsened significantly since.

    It would be interesting to know which one is the more significant reason for the change.

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  • Geoff:

    25 Jul 2008 11:47:40am

    The more things change, the more they stay the same.

    I can remember worrying about the same things in the late 50s and early 60s; 1950s and 60s that is. Now I'm in my 60's I'm still worrying about relationships,

    ... and finances,

    ... and my health,

    ... and the planet,

    ... and ... .

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  • James:

    25 Jul 2008 11:52:41am

    That's the problem with these Gen Y brats - not a day's hardship for any of them. No recession to weather, no standing in line with 200 others for a job at Woolworths, no war or conscription, no threat of nuclear annhiliation, no sharing, no disappointment.

    As a consequence, one has to endure their endless me-me-me 'Oprah-style' relationship analysis chatter on their ubiquitous mobile phones or hear their grossly overconfident claims to be able to be CEO of a Fortune 500 company at 21.

    I can't abide them. May they suffer some form of denial in their relationships - let's hope it makes them more humble and therefore, bearable.

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      • what...:

        25 Jul 2008 1:44:03pm

        well, im one of these genY "brats"....

        come live in my life for a month, you will certainly see that we are not brat's.

        just that our priorities are diferent from those of times past.

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      • Steve:

        25 Jul 2008 1:57:37pm

        Dear Lord, by the same token I could throw back a whole bunch of stereotypes about Baby Boomers just blaming the youth for everything and being unable to comprehend problems that don't involve coal strikes.

        Facts: I attend university full-time. I work enough to pay all of my expenses as well as save. That includes rent in a tight market (Canberra) and running a car when I can't avoid using it. I don't get squat from either my parents or the government. We're not all lazy brats, just like hardship did not turn all of your generation into stoics.

        Oh, and as for nuclear annihilation, obviously you don't have to be young to be naive. Since the end of the Cold War we've been teetering closer and closer to the brink. The Doomsday Clock is currently at five minutes to midnight - the closest since 1984.

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      • The Beverage:

        25 Jul 2008 2:00:23pm

        James, you need to lighten up. I agree that we have not had to endure the hardships of your generation (yet), and we're all the luckier for it. But I find your claim of an endless "me-me-me" relationship analysis chatter to be quite offensive. I am yet to encounter this "me-me-me" style attitude in any of my generation. I suppose there are exceptions, and most of them are on the dole, so they can't complain. But in general, the people that I find to be incredibly self involved (at least in my workplaces) are the adults. Always bitching about more this and more that. The younger staff just get by, with minimal complaint.

        Honestly, it sounds like you need to be more humble yourself. Just because you're older, doesnt' give you the right to talk down to people. Especially the ones who'll be paying for your pension.

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  • Remark:

    25 Jul 2008 12:05:37pm

    Well, there you go.

    Below linked is a survey which (as recently as this month) found that young people are the demographic that is MOST concerned with their financial difficulties.

    "Financial stress was highest among 20- to 24-year-olds while health concerns were most elevated among the elderly."

    Brisbane Times, 3 July 2008

    http://tinyurl.com/63vyu3

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  • Polarised:

    25 Jul 2008 12:27:53pm

    It's interesting to see how comments appear to be polarising the matter to relationships vs money. Money is important (as are relationships) and should not be a taboo subject because of interpretations from a news article.

    It's important for everyone to be taught and know the truth about "money" - its true origins, its manipulation and control - starting with a child's birth registration and certificate (Govt bond to central bankers) and subsequent lifetime of debt enslavement. Let people investigate, discuss and address the issue of money instead of being polarised.

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      • vm:

        25 Jul 2008 1:43:59pm

        Money is not an issue, the lack of them is.
        ===========================
        BUT on a more serious note, Money should be a 'tool', an instrument to lifestyle rather than a 'measure of success'.

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  • Billy Bob Hall:

    25 Jul 2008 1:08:29pm

    Before I had a relationship I had money.
    After I had a relationship I had no money.
    Go figure !? :-(

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  • The Beverage:

    25 Jul 2008 1:39:51pm

    I fit nicely into this demographic. When I think about money, although it would be nice to have more, I know its going to come and go. All we can do is just try our best to save what we can. Theres just no point in putting too much emphasis on money. It really isnt the be all and end all. If you attach all your emotion to your money, you're going to be one very sad person when it all dissapears. I really think that this generation just understand that theres is much much more to life than money.

    The youth of today are definately in a better position than previous generations (at least in some respects). We have super annuation to assist in the future (best idea ever), and, although we should, we don't have to contribute to it directly. We've got HECS, which, while annoying, serves a very useful purpose and allows us to pay for education once we can afford it. Its worth thanking the previous generations for these advantages. Without their efforst, we couldn't afford to concentrate on the more important things.

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  • dk:

    25 Jul 2008 1:59:21pm

    lol, this is funny.
    As a youth i disagree with this entirely. They dont stress about money... yet.

    Just wait 'youth' wait til you have a job and your not at uni/school. When you have to pay your own rent and you cant ask mummy or daddy for a 'quick loan' to pay for yourself.

    Relationships are in demand because our society makes us go through them so quickly that we want/need another one. Television relationships i like to call them.

    sad sad world.

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