Indonesian Parents Are More Afraid of Disrespectful Children than Failed Grade
Becoming a parent is a journey filled with happiness, a learning process, and challenges. Every parent has their own parenting style, influenced by the surrounding environment, personal values, and social expectations.
Jakpat conducted a survey of 983 respondents to explore their views on parenting. The main reasons people have children are want to have descendants (66%) and the believe that children can complete the family (63%). For 62% of Gen X, having children is bringing fortune.
Preparation Before Having Children
As many as 81% of respondents stated that financial preparation is the main thing that needs to be prepared before having children. Followed by mental readiness, knowledge about parenting and children’s education, and emotional readiness; all of which were chosen by more than 70% of respondents.
Septiana Widi Sugiastuti, Research Lead at Jakpat, emphasized the importance of emotional stability for parents, which is considered necessary by 72% of respondents. “Because children absorb energy and responses from their parents,” she said.
Parenthood: Easy or Hard?
When discussing their experience as a parent, 3 out of 5 mothers admit that this role feels quite hard. In terms of tiring and stress, mothers also experience it more often. On the other hand, 1 in 4 fathers actually stated that being a parent feels easy. They also find this role more often enjoyable and satisfying
The Role of Social Media in Parenting
Social media also plays a role in parenting, with 64% of respondents admitting to being influenced by it. The accounts that are most often referenced are experts such as doctors or psychologists (74%), followed by social media users who have interesting parenting styles (73%), and accounts or sites that specifically discuss parenting topics (73%).
Parents’ Concerns
As many as 94% of parents admitted that they were worried if their children became disrespectful or lacked manners. More than 90% of parents are also worried if their children are involved in bullying both as victims and perpetrators. These aspects concern parents more than academic related such as children failed grades, which was mentioned by 77% of respondents.
Septiana added, “The survey results show that in this era, cross-generational parents have the same concerns about children’s social issues, such as bullying and fights, than about
academic problems. This is the duty of parents to be more sensitive, because children can experience bullying at school, the surrounding environment, and even online (cyberbullying).”
Want to know other concerns that parents feel, as well as details of the differences between fathers and mothers in facing parenting challenges? Download the full “Parenting Trends in Indonesia” report via the following link:
