Home and Survey: the SCCR National Survey 2023

One in five young people think about leaving home due to family arguments on a monthly basis. That is one of the results in our newly published national survey. Conducted between August and November 2022, we asked young people, parents and carers to tell us about their home lives, and professionals and practitioners about their work. The results give a snapshot of family life in Scotland post-COVID.

Findings include:

• One-fifth of young people questioned said they have thought about leaving home due to arguments on a monthly basis.
• 39 percent of young people and 62 percent of parents/carers say conflict at home happens at least weekly.
• 11 percent of young people have left home or have been asked to leave because of family arguments.
• 54 percent of young people and 70 percent of parents/carers felt that their mental health had been negatively affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• 68 percent of young people and 84 percent of parents and carers agreed it would help to feel better supported in their family relationships – but 40 percent and 27 percent, respectively, did not know of any relevant support services in their area.

Over the period in which the survey ran, we received a total of 378 responses from people based in 31 Local Authorities. Individual online surveys were completed by 236 young people, 63 parents/carers and 79 professionals and practitioners. Separate surveys were designed for each target group and included qualitative and quantitative questions. The surveys were distributed to a broad range of organisations across Scotland supporting young people and families, with a request that they share.

SCCR’s survey confirms that COVID-19 had a significant and negative impact on mental health and wellbeing within families. A common theme was that existing mental health problems were worsened, especially depression and anxiety. Fifty percent of parents and carers and 25 percent of young people felt that the lockdown had a negative impact on their family relationships with 47 percent of parents and carers and 36 percent of young people stating that the amount of arguments and conflicts increased at home.

Similarly, over three-quarters of professionals agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns had a negative impact on those they were supporting, especially relating to families’ mental health and wellbeing with 85 percent seeing a negative impact.

The SCCR National Survey results are being published at a time when the Scottish Government is preparing a Housing Bill enshrining in law Homelessness Prevention Duties to ensure homelessness is stopped at an earlier stage.

The Survey underlines the need for current proposals to extend public bodies and landlords’ duty to take reasonable steps to prevent homelessness up to six months before and to improve housing options for those who finds themselves without a place to stay.

The results and proposed legislation also underline the timeliness of the SCCR’s own work on conflict resolution, early intervention and mediation.

Cyrenians is currently running a spring appeal, raising donations to help families who are, with the cost of living crisis, under more pressure than ever. With relationship breakdown being the leading cause of youth homelessness the time to act is right now.

Cyrenians can support families who are reaching breaking point to build a stronger foundation. Their mediation and support services help create breathing space for families already on the edge. With practical support to meet immediate need, and long-term holistic support, they’re breaking the cycle of youth homelessness. Find out more about Cyrenians’ Spring Appeal here.

The full results of our national survey will be available to see in a soon-to-be-published report.