Drugs and bullying biggest concerns of parents: Survey

London, Dec 22 (ANI): Drugs and bullying are the biggest concerns of parents of children aged 10 to 15, according to a new survey. The study, by market researchers Mintel, shows that almost 50 percent of all parents cite addiction as their biggest concern, with more than a third worried by bullying, the threat of paedophiles and alcohol abuse.

The study also confirms the stereotype that mothers are more nervous parents than fathers, reports the Telegraph.

Christine Driver, director of clinical services at WPF Therapy, a London-based counselling charity which works with parents, said: "There are some very basic underlying fears that all parents have: will their children survive and make something of themselves in life?

"Parents have no control over things like drugs and paedophilia and that is why they fear them. We live in an age where there is a very great fear of things that are out of our control. They are less fearful of things that happen in the home, like what their children eat, which they think they can control," Driver added.

According to Driver, parents' nerves are being fuelled by the behaviour of celebrities like Amy Winehouse and Britney Spears.

In the study, it was found that almost a quarter of the parents questioned said their kids were influenced by stars, compared to just 16 per cent who thought teachers were role models.

"I am sure that is a major part of it. Seeing what these celebrities do - and get away with - fuels something in parents and children alike and it feeds the fear," Driver said.

Top ten concerns of parents of children aged 10 to 15:

1. Drug use - 45 per cent.

2. Bullying - 37 per cent.

3. Paedophiles - 34 per cent.

4. Alcohol use - 33 per cent.

5. School performance/exam pressure - 31 per cent.

6. Knife/gun crime - 21 per cent.

7. Not eating healthily 20 per cent.

8. Underage sex - 18 per cent.

9. Not getting enough exercise - 15 per cent.

10 = Getting involved with gangs - 12 per cent.

10 = Not reading enough - 12 per cent (ANI)