80% of Parents Say Cost-of-Living Crisis Negatively Impacts Children, Barnardos Reports

Up to 80 per cent of parents believe their children have been negatively impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, according to a Barnardos report. This marks a steady increase in parents reporting significant effects on their children over five years of monitoring financial pressures on families.

The report, based on a May survey of 1,000 parents/guardians by Amárach Research, found 21 per cent cut back on heating and 17 per cent reduced electricity usage. Thirty-six per cent went into energy bill arrears in the past 12 months, up from 32 per cent last year. Twenty per cent of parents cut back on food, with 44 per cent skipping meals or reducing their own portions for their children, a 4 per cent increase from last year. Sixteen per cent used a food bank, up from 12 per cent.

Fifty-five per cent worried about fuel for their car, and 17 per cent cut back on medical appointments. Nearly 40 per cent borrowed money, and 29 per cent are always worried about providing essentials. Only one in five parents said cost-of-living pressures had no negative effect. Parents with household incomes under €30,000 were four times more likely to cut back on food. Children in one-parent families were significantly more impacted (32 per cent) than those in two-parent households (17 per cent).

Stephen Moffatt, Barnardos national policy manager, stated that deprivation negatively affects children's health, wellbeing, relationships, and school engagement, often exacerbating existing adversities like parental separation or homelessness.