Barn og unges levekår og velferd

Denne rapporten er utarbeidet av Mona Sandbæk ved Norsk institutt for forskning om oppvekst, velferd og aldring (NOVA) på oppdrag av Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening (N.K.S.). Den inneholder en oversikt over kunnskap om barn og unges levekår og velferd i Norge og gir en vurdering av nye forskningsbehov. Rapporten fokuserer på barn og unge i grunnskolealder og baserer seg først og fremst på større datainnsamlinger. Rapporten innledes med en drøfting av barn og unges levekår og velferd rundt stikkordene forandring og tvetydighet. Hvilke forandringer har preget barn og unges liv i etterkrigstiden, og hvordan kan disse forandringene forstås? I kapittel to gis det en kort innføring i utviklingen av levekårsforskningen, og ulike tilnærminger til levekårsundersøkelser om barn presenteres. Deretter følger fire empiriske kapitler med hovedoverskriftene: Barn i Norge og deres familieforhold, Barnehager og skole, Barns helse og Barns sosiale problemer. I avslutningskapitlet blir nye forskningsbehov på hvert av områdene drøftet. Forfatteren argumenterer for å iverksette egne levkårsundersøkelser om barn. Slike undersøkelser vil bidra til å belyse den moderne barndommen sett med barna og de unges øyne. De bør også ha et særlig fokus på hvordan sosial ulikhet arter seg blant dagens barn og unge, både i tradisjonelle, men også i mer moderne former. Indikatorer på barns levekår kan danne et vesentlig sammenlikningsgrunnlag for å vurdere effekten av ulike sosiale hjelpetiltak og overføringer. Les pressemeldinge

Barn og foreldre som sosiale aktører i møte med hjelpetjenester

Hva kan vi lære av å studere kompetanse, positive livshendelser og hverdagsliv hos barn som er brukere av hjelpetjenester? Hvordan kan barn og foreldres erfaringer med hjelpetjenestene bidra til ny forståelse av denne kontakten? Disse spørsmålene drøftes i denne avhandlingen, som handler om barn og foreldres kontakt med Pedagogisk-psykologisk tjeneste, Barneverntjenesten og Barne- og ungdomspsykiatrisk poliklinikk. Mens oppmerksomheten rundt klientfamilier ofte dreier seg om problemer, tar dette arbeidet utgangspunkt i nye strømninger i velferdsforskningen som fokuserer på menneskers evne til å være sosiale aktører i egne liv med individuelle mestringsstrategier og ressurser. Avhandlingen beskriver barnas styrker og interesser og foreldrenes ulike forsøk på å hjelpe barna sine. Den drøfter også barn og foreldres vurderinger av hjelpetjenestene.Det empiriske materialet er hentet fra en surveyundersøkelse rettet mot 10- og 13-åringer, deres foreldre og lærere, om kompetanse og risikoforhold i barnas liv. 24 barn og 60 foreldre ble også intervjuet nærmere om sine erfaringer med de nevnte tjenestene. Betegnelsen foreldre benyttes om biologiske-, adoptiv- og fosterforeldre. Begge undersøkelsene foregikk i Asker kommune. Avhandlingen består av en sammenbindende del og fem publiserte artikler

Barn og foreldre som sosiale aktører i møte med hjelpetjenester

Hva kan vi lære av å studere kompetanse, positive livshendelser og hverdagsliv hos barn som er brukere av hjelpetjenester? Hvordan kan barn og foreldres erfaringer med hjelpetjenestene bidra til ny forståelse av denne kontakten? Disse spørsmålene drøftes i denne avhandlingen, som handler om barn og foreldres kontakt med Pedagogisk-psykologisk tjeneste, Barneverntjenesten og Barne- og ungdomspsykiatrisk poliklinikk. Mens oppmerksomheten rundt klientfamilier ofte dreier seg om problemer, tar dette arbeidet utgangspunkt i nye strømninger i velferdsforskningen som fokuserer på menneskers evne til å være sosiale aktører i egne liv med individuelle mestringsstrategier og ressurser. Avhandlingen beskriver barnas styrker og interesser og foreldrenes ulike forsøk på å hjelpe barna sine. Den drøfter også barn og foreldres vurderinger av hjelpetjenestene.Det empiriske materialet er hentet fra en surveyundersøkelse rettet mot 10- og 13-åringer, deres foreldre og lærere, om kompetanse og risikoforhold i barnas liv. 24 barn og 60 foreldre ble også intervjuet nærmere om sine erfaringer med de nevnte tjenestene. Betegnelsen foreldre benyttes om biologiske-, adoptiv- og fosterforeldre. Begge undersøkelsene foregikk i Asker kommune. Avhandlingen består av en sammenbindende del og fem publiserte artikler

Barns levekår

Summary This report is based on interviews with children and parents in low income families (below 60 percent of median income, the low income sample') and with children and parents from a general sample of families (the control sample'). Data were collected by means of personal interviews, and almost 2000 families participated. The overall response rate was 54.4 percent. The aim of the study was to describe how children in families with low income experience their daily life compared to children in the normal population. In accordance with similar studies from Norway, our results showed that lone parents, workless families and families with ethnic minority backgrounds were overrepresented in the low income sample. Also, these groups were more likely to experience housing deprivation, they more often lacked key items of consumption goods, and they were more likely than other families in the low income sample to report that they had insufficient money to cover their needs. The proportion of families who reported all these three forms of deprivation at once was however low, only four percent in the low income sample. Compared to the families in the control sample, low income families were more likely to report an unstable housing situation, and fewer families owned their own house. Families in the low income sample who lived in public housing were especially exposed to housing problems (overcrowding, low material standards, problems with noise etc). There were no differences between the low income families and the families in the control sample with regard to relationships with friends and family nor satisfaction with family life. The same applied to contact between children and non-resident parents (most often fathers) in cases where children did not live with both biological parents. However, low income families were more likely to report that they refrained from activities such as going on holidays, going to the cinema and eating out. Parents in the low income sample also reported more somatic and mental health problems than parents in the control sample. This was particularly true for groups within the low income sample who experienced deprivation in other areas (housing deprivation, lack of consumer goods, and self-reported financial problems). The differences between children in low-income families and children from the control sample were less evident when the analysis was based on information from the children themselves. A majority of children from the low income sample did not report school related problems, non-participation in leisure activities nor health problems. There were, however, also important differences between the two groups of children. Children from low-income families were more inclined than other children to report that they did not do as well in school as their peers, and they received special education more often than other children. They also reported more teasing and bullying from peers than children in the control sample. On the other hand, there were no differences in teacher-pupil relationships or general well-being in school. Although a majority of the children in low income families participated in organised leisure activities, the proportion who did not participate at all was significantly higher among children in the low income sample than in the control sample. Girls with ethnic minority backgrounds were particularly likely to report little or no participation in organised activities. Children in low income families did not invite friends home or visit friends in their homes as often as other children. Nevertheless, children from low income families were not more inclined to have unstable friendships than other children or to report that they did not confide their problems to a friend. The majority of children in both samples owned material objects that are common among Norwegian children (e.g. bike, cross country skis/snowboard and cd-player). The percentagewho didnot have all these objects was, however, significantly higher among the children in the low income sample than in the control sample. This also applied to the children's own economic resources: While a majority of the children in the low income sample had access to money, the minority who had no money of their own was larger among the low income children than among other children. Children in the low income sample were less likely than their parents to describe the family's financial situation as poor. This finding is in accordance with our interpretation of (the lack of) differences between children from the two samples: Parents in low income families seem to protect their children by prioritising children's needs over their own. In many respects parents can be seen as buffers for children growing up in families with low income. The general welfare level in the Norwegian society is also a factor that can explain why the differences between the two groups of children are moderate. There is however also reason to believe that the families who chose not to participate in the study may be worse off than the families who participated. With regard to policy implications, we argue that universal measures as well as measures directed towards children themselves are important when working to reduce problems associated with life on a low income

Barns levekår

Summary This report is based on interviews with children and parents in low income families (below 60 percent of median income, the low income sample') and with children and parents from a general sample of families (the control sample'). Data were collected by means of personal interviews, and almost 2000 families participated. The overall response rate was 54.4 percent. The aim of the study was to describe how children in families with low income experience their daily life compared to children in the normal population. In accordance with similar studies from Norway, our results showed that lone parents, workless families and families with ethnic minority backgrounds were overrepresented in the low income sample. Also, these groups were more likely to experience housing deprivation, they more often lacked key items of consumption goods, and they were more likely than other families in the low income sample to report that they had insufficient money to cover their needs. The proportion of families who reported all these three forms of deprivation at once was however low, only four percent in the low income sample. Compared to the families in the control sample, low income families were more likely to report an unstable housing situation, and fewer families owned their own house. Families in the low income sample who lived in public housing were especially exposed to housing problems (overcrowding, low material standards, problems with noise etc). There were no differences between the low income families and the families in the control sample with regard to relationships with friends and family nor satisfaction with family life. The same applied to contact between children and non-resident parents (most often fathers) in cases where children did not live with both biological parents. However, low income families were more likely to report that they refrained from activities such as going on holidays, going to the cinema and eating out. Parents in the low income sample also reported more somatic and mental health problems than parents in the control sample. This was particularly true for groups within the low income sample who experienced deprivation in other areas (housing deprivation, lack of consumer goods, and self-reported financial problems). The differences between children in low-income families and children from the control sample were less evident when the analysis was based on information from the children themselves. A majority of children from the low income sample did not report school related problems, non-participation in leisure activities nor health problems. There were, however, also important differences between the two groups of children. Children from low-income families were more inclined than other children to report that they did not do as well in school as their peers, and they received special education more often than other children. They also reported more teasing and bullying from peers than children in the control sample. On the other hand, there were no differences in teacher-pupil relationships or general well-being in school. Although a majority of the children in low income families participated in organised leisure activities, the proportion who did not participate at all was significantly higher among children in the low income sample than in the control sample. Girls with ethnic minority backgrounds were particularly likely to report little or no participation in organised activities. Children in low income families did not invite friends home or visit friends in their homes as often as other children. Nevertheless, children from low income families were not more inclined to have unstable friendships than other children or to report that they did not confide their problems to a friend. The majority of children in both samples owned material objects that are common among Norwegian children (e.g. bike, cross country skis/snowboard and cd-player). The percentagewho didnot have all these objects was, however, significantly higher among the children in the low income sample than in the control sample. This also applied to the children's own economic resources: While a majority of the children in the low income sample had access to money, the minority who had no money of their own was larger among the low income children than among other children. Children in the low income sample were less likely than their parents to describe the family's financial situation as poor. This finding is in accordance with our interpretation of (the lack of) differences between children from the two samples: Parents in low income families seem to protect their children by prioritising children's needs over their own. In many respects parents can be seen as buffers for children growing up in families with low income. The general welfare level in the Norwegian society is also a factor that can explain why the differences between the two groups of children are moderate. There is however also reason to believe that the families who chose not to participate in the study may be worse off than the families who participated. With regard to policy implications, we argue that universal measures as well as measures directed towards children themselves are important when working to reduce problems associated with life on a low income

Barn og unges levekår og velferd

Denne rapporten er utarbeidet av Mona Sandbæk ved Norsk institutt for forskning om oppvekst, velferd og aldring (NOVA) på oppdrag av Norske Kvinners Sanitetsforening (N.K.S.). Den inneholder en oversikt over kunnskap om barn og unges levekår og velferd i Norge og gir en vurdering av nye forskningsbehov. Rapporten fokuserer på barn og unge i grunnskolealder og baserer seg først og fremst på større datainnsamlinger. Rapporten innledes med en drøfting av barn og unges levekår og velferd rundt stikkordene forandring og tvetydighet. Hvilke forandringer har preget barn og unges liv i etterkrigstiden, og hvordan kan disse forandringene forstås? I kapittel to gis det en kort innføring i utviklingen av levekårsforskningen, og ulike tilnærminger til levekårsundersøkelser om barn presenteres. Deretter følger fire empiriske kapitler med hovedoverskriftene: Barn i Norge og deres familieforhold, Barnehager og skole, Barns helse og Barns sosiale problemer. I avslutningskapitlet blir nye forskningsbehov på hvert av områdene drøftet. Forfatteren argumenterer for å iverksette egne levkårsundersøkelser om barn. Slike undersøkelser vil bidra til å belyse den moderne barndommen sett med barna og de unges øyne. De bør også ha et særlig fokus på hvordan sosial ulikhet arter seg blant dagens barn og unge, både i tradisjonelle, men også i mer moderne former. Indikatorer på barns levekår kan danne et vesentlig sammenlikningsgrunnlag for å vurdere effekten av ulike sosiale hjelpetiltak og overføringer. Les pressemeldinge

European Policies to Promote Children’s Rights and Combat Child Poverty

The upbringing of children relies heavily on shared responsibilities between parents and society. The Council of Europe Recommendation (2006) 19 on Policy to Support Positive Parenting and the European Commission Recommendation (2013) Investing in Children: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage, both aim at supporting parents to care and provide for their children in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. By means of a document analysis this article examines what kind of parental practices and provision to parents the recommendations suggest to safeguard children’s rights in the family. Three findings are highlighted: first, both recommendations reflect a commitment to respecting children’s rights while at the same time acknowledging parents as children’s primary caregivers. Second, both recognize parents’ rights to work, while also recognizing the necessity of adequate income support if work is not available or income too low. Third, adequate resources are defined as a combination of universal policies and services, which guarantee a minimum level for all, and targeted measures reaching out to the most disadvantaged. The recommendations’ emphasis on children and parents as partners and on the families’ economic situations are valuable for future development of family and child policy and support programs

Barn og unge rapporterer til FN om rettighetene sine

Denne rapporten er utarbeidet på oppdrag av Barne- og likestillingsdepartementet. Norges fjerde rapport til FN om oppfølgingen av barnekonvensjonen leveres våren 2008. Norske myndigheter ønsket å videreformidle barn og unges egne synspunkter på hvordan det er å vokse opp i Norge til FN. Åtte kommuner ble derfor invitert til å innhente synspunkter fra barn og unge. Resultatene er sammenfattet i denne rapporten. En kortversjon er oversatt til engelsk og vil følge som vedlegg til Norges offisielle rapport. Har du hørt om FNs barnekonvensjon? Har barn rettigheter? Trives du godt på skolen? Er du blitt utsatt for urettferdig behandling eller diskriminering? Finnes det gode fritidstilbud i kommunen din? Vet du hvem du kan kontakte dersom du trenger hjelp? Dette er noen av spørsmålene som til sammen 1274 barn og unge har besvart

Barn og unge rapporterer til FN om rettighetene sine

Denne rapporten er utarbeidet på oppdrag av Barne- og likestillingsdepartementet. Norges fjerde rapport til FN om oppfølgingen av barnekonvensjonen leveres våren 2008. Norske myndigheter ønsket å videreformidle barn og unges egne synspunkter på hvordan det er å vokse opp i Norge til FN. Åtte kommuner ble derfor invitert til å innhente synspunkter fra barn og unge. Resultatene er sammenfattet i denne rapporten. En kortversjon er oversatt til engelsk og vil følge som vedlegg til Norges offisielle rapport. Har du hørt om FNs barnekonvensjon? Har barn rettigheter? Trives du godt på skolen? Er du blitt utsatt for urettferdig behandling eller diskriminering? Finnes det gode fritidstilbud i kommunen din? Vet du hvem du kan kontakte dersom du trenger hjelp? Dette er noen av spørsmålene som til sammen 1274 barn og unge har besvart