Three in four parents put their own health on hold while caring for children, study finds

Three in four parents put their own health on hold while caring for children, study finds Research shows parents regularly cancel doctors appointments or ignore symptoms in order to prioritise their children - often making their issues worse. Three quarters of parents say they put their own health on hold because they are too busy looking after their children’s wellbeing, and many admit it can lead to more serious problems. A study of 2,000 parents with children under 16 found that half of those who have pushed their health to the bottom of the list have ignored their own symptoms so they can prioritise their children instead. A third (33%) said they have put off seeking medical help. Some parents said they cancelled a medical appointment because they were too busy to go (24%). Others delayed a screening appointment (20%) or even put off treatment (19%). But 71% said delaying care meant their health issues got worse. The research also found many working parents feel they can’t take time off when they are ill. Two thirds (66%) said they avoided taking a sick day because they felt they needed to “save” time off for when their children are unwell. And 58% said they kept working through sickness instead of taking time to recover because they worried they had already taken too much time off to look after an ill child. Dr Naveen Puri, medical director for Bupa UK Insurance, which offers family health cover, and commissioned the research, said: “One of the most stressful times as a parent is when your children are unwell. “Understandably, parents often feel they must balance caring for their children with work, household responsibilities and looking after the rest of the family — but it’s crucial they don’t lose sight of their own health in the process. “Too often, parents put their own health on hold, whether that’s working through illness instead of taking time to recover, ignoring symptoms, or delaying seeking medical support despite having a concern about their health. “What’s critical is that parents feel able to prioritise their own health, so they can stay well and continue to care properly for the wider family.” The study found 63% of parents feel overwhelmed when their child is ill, and 41% said it can feel like someone in the family is always unwell. On average, parents spend just over two hours a week dealing with their children’s health — the equivalent of more than four full days a year. It also emerged that 62% said they are always worrying about their children’s health, with 81% finding it stressful when there is illness in the family. The most stressful thing when a child is ill is simply worrying about how they are (51%). That was followed by disrupted sleep routines (43%) and juggling an ill child with the demands of everyday life (40%). Others said they find it difficult to juggle an ill child with work (38%), knowing when to seek medical advice (28%) and trying to arrange medical appointments (25%). The OnePoll research also found 80% of parents think they take better care of their children’s health than their own. And when it comes to managing family health, 25% said the responsibility falls solely on them. To make life easier, 45% said it would help to have fast access to medical advice when it’s needed, while 40% said they want less waiting time for medical appointments. Dr Puri added: “When your child — or anyone in your family — is ill, you want to be able to sort out the care they need as quickly as possible. “Not only does this reduce the stress associated with a loved one being ill, but it also allows parents the time to look after their own health as well.”