Mission Australia’s 2007 National Survey of Young Australians, Australia’s largest annual survey of young people has found that body image is the biggest worry for 11-24 year olds – both males and females – with one-in-three respondents recording it as a major concern.
 
The national survey, conducted by welfare charity Mission Australia, tested the views of almost 29,000 young people, between the ages of 11-24 (95.5 per cent between 11-19).
 
When asked to rank 14 issues in level of concern, body image was ranked most frequently in the top three by 32.3 per cent of respondents. Family conflict was the next top concern at 29.3 per cent, while coping with stress came in third at 26.9 per cent.
 
Concern about body image has risen since 2006’s survey, when it finished as the third most pressing issue at 28.1 per cent. The increase is more significant given there were a greater number of issues that participants were asked to rank this year – 14 up from 12.
 
According to Mission Australia’s spokesperson, Anne Hampshire, young people’s growing concern with body image should ring alarm bells in the broader community.
 
“Not only has body image grown in concern since last year’s survey, but among young adults – those aged 20-24 – concern about this issue has doubled. In fact, across all three age groups (11-14, 15-19 and 20-24) body image was a major issue for at least 30 per cent of respondents.
 
“Furthermore, young women’s level of concern about body image has increased from 28.5 per cent in 2006 to 34.9 per cent in 2007.
 
“As a community, we should all be concerned by these results,” said Ms Hampshire.
 
This is Mission Australia’s sixth National Survey of Young Australians and its largest so far. It was conducted on-line and through schools, colleges and youth services around the country with the help of government agencies and community and corporate partners. The questions asked included: What do you value?, What issues are important/of concern?, Where do you turn for advice/support? and What people/organisations do you most admire?.
 
Of the survey’s respondents, around 1,700 identified as Indigenous; 4,100 spoke a language other than English at home; and 400 indicated they were either homeless or living in insecure housing.
 
“There are a number of results from this year’s survey that are worth noting,” said Ms Hampshire.
 
“For example, included in the survey for the first time, the environment was rated as a major concern for around a quarter of young people (23.4 per cent) and came in above bullying/emotional abuse (22.7 per cent) and physical/sexual abuse (21.2 per cent).
 
“Far from the media’s portrayal of young people as highly materialistic, when asked what they value, financial security lags some way behind family and friends.
 
“Overall, the results show young Australians place an enormous importance on family and friends – which is very encouraging. There’s also a remarkable convergence in young people’s responses between metro and rural areas, something which can no doubt be put down to the influence of the Internet and other mass media. Gender and age are the areas where differences are apparent.
 
“Also, around one-in-five respondents identified the Internet as a primary source of advice and support in 2007 – compared to one-in-10 in 2002 – with close to 30 per cent of 20-24 year old respondents turning to the Internet compared to 13.9 per cent of 11-14 year olds." 
 
Ms Hampshire said that while the survey indicated Indigenous and non-Indigenous young Australians shared many similarities, it also uncovered some stark differences.
 
“In terms of similarities, body image was the top issue of concern for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people. However, alcohol was the second highest issue of concern for Indigenous respondents at 31.8 per cent compared to 19.6 per cent of their non-Indigenous counterparts.
 
“And turning popular stereotypes on their head, young Indigenous people place a higher value on getting a job (26.4 per cent) over their non-Indigenous peers (15 per cent).
 
“The survey shows that young Australians are incredibly diverse, there’s no ‘one size fits all’.
 
“It also suggests that – with the rise of concern about body image – new issues are affecting the already challenging transition from youth to adulthood.
 
“What is encouraging from the survey is that 82.9 per cent of respondents felt they have adequate information on these issues, and know who to turn to for help.
 
“What’s also encouraging is that young people are not afraid to talk about issues of concern to someone who’s close – either their friends, family or another relative.
 
“We need to continue empowering young people – and their parents and families – so they have the information they need. As we’ve seen from our survey, when facing issues of concern, most young people go to their friends and family for help,” Ms Hampshire said.