In a survey of 1,148 UK adults, 61 per cent said that parents do not getenough time to spend with their children while 48 per cent said they hadto put their career first even if this affected family life.
The survey is the second in a series of surveys on childhood,commissioned by the Children's Society as part of its Good ChildhoodInquiry.
Thousands of children, young people, adults and professionals submittedtheir views on families. Over a third said they had found it difficultto meet their family responsibilities because of time spent at work overthe past three months.
The Children's Society said the results reflected the 'growing dilemma'parents face when juggling the demands of working life in a country withsome of the longest working hours in Western Europe.
Bob Reitemeier, chief executive of the Children's Society, said of thepoll, 'In spite of how important family relationships are in the livesof all children, modern society appears to be pulling them apart. Weneed to take a closer look at how a child's need for family can be metin the context of the 21st century, if we are to ensure a good childhoodfor all children.'
The Good Childhood Inquiry is an independent national study ofchildhood, managed by the Children's Society (News, 15 February). Thetopic of family is the second of the inquiry's six key themes. Theremaining surveys will look at health, learning, lifestyle and valuesand the final report and recommendations will be published in 2008.
A summary of the evidence about family submitted to the inquiry can bedownloaded at www.goodchildhood.org.uk.