One year on from the first Tower/TNS “What Worries New Zealanders” survey, results indicate that changing roles and responsibilities at home and at work, are shifting the focus of our worries away from money, towards the family. The latest survey looks at the differences between men and women’s worries in relation to family and work. Men are finding a change in roles and responsibilities at home and at work creates more worries for them, while women are feeling increased pressure to do everything.

One in five survey respondents felt they frequently worry about finding the right balance between work and home life, particularly for those with children. Females aged between 25 and 34 years worry most, with more than half frequently worrying about finding the right balance, compared with 32 percent of males in the same age group. Other statistics showed:

one in five NZ men and women frequently worry about spending enough time with their kids;

an equal number frequently worry about being a good role model for their child - this was more prevalent amongst lower income families;

one in four women frequently worry about the sacrifices they have to make to have a family today, compared with one in five men;

almost one in three females aged between 25 and 34 frequently worry about getting too old to have children; and

sixty-nine percent of females believe that, in general, women do worry more than men (however, 31 percent of men disagree).

Women worry more than men about work, family, health, money, and time, while men out-worry women on societal issues. In general women worry more than men about earning more than their partner.

Worries related to the work place again reflect quite a difference between men and women. For men a job provides a sense of security for both themselves and their family, whereas for women the job provided more a sense of personal satisfaction.

Other Findings

There has been an 11.5 percent increase overall in family worries, driven by a 16 percent increase (to 44 percent) of females worrying more frequently in the latest survey. Society has remained a significant worry, staying in second spot, and 22 percent more men often worry about societal issues.

We are 16 percent less worried about money than in previous surveys, although money worries remain significant. Almost one in five NZ men and women worry about their level of personal or household debt today. Of those, the most worried are 27 percent of males and females aged between 25 and 34 living in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch.

On the subject of pay equality, 44 percent of women at least sometimes worry about the issue, compared with only 35 percent of men.

Time increasingly continues to worry us, with those worrying frequently about time increasing by 17 percent to 28 percent. Twenty-five percent more people living in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch are worrying more frequently. Health worries almost remain unchanged with 34 percent rarely worried about their health versus 23 percent frequently worrying.