ATP parent newsletter 2011

Download the 2011 newsletter for ATP parents (PDF 431 KB)


Thank you so much for continuing to support the ATP. With many of you now grandparents, the ATP is soon to become one of the few three-generation studies in the world. In this newsletter, we tell you about our plans to follow this next generation, as well as some interesting findings from our 2010–11 survey.

To all ATP parents season’s greetings from the Australian Temperament Project!

Launch of the ATP Next Generation study

This year marked the beginning of a new phase of the Australian Temperament Project with the launch of the ATP Next Generation study. As you know, the ATP has followed your son’s or daughter’s development and wellbeing since birth and also has important information on you, as parents. We now have an opportunity to investigate the way in which health and wellbeing are handed down through the generations, from grandparent to parent to child.

The peak period of childbirth in Victoria is around 30 years of age, and indications are that the ATP group is fitting in with this trend. Twenty-four per cent of our younger study members were parents or were expecting a child at the time of our 2010–11 survey, and it seems that many more children will be arriving in coming years. Sixty-one per cent strongly hoped to have a child (or another child) in the future.

For those of you who are now grandparents, we hope that your ATP son or daughter will take part in our ATP Next Generation study phone interview to help us learn about their experiences of parenting and the development and wellbeing of your grandchildren.

There are few studies like the ATP anywhere in the world that have the capacity to study health and wellbeing across three generations. With information on your son/daughter’s wellbeing, your own wellbeing, and now that of your grandchildren, the ATP is set to make one of its most significant contributions. If your ATP son or daughter has a child aged between 11 and 36 months (3 years) and would like to be part of the ATP Next Generation study, please encourage them to send us an email.

2010–11 Survey

A special thank you to all who took part in our 15th ATP survey. As we are still processing your surveys, we are not able to tell you much about the trends yet. However, here is a brief snapshot of some of the findings from our young adult survey.

It was pleasing to find that most of your ATP sons and daughters were in regular contact with you (their parents), and told us you were getting along well together. For instance, 89% communicated with their parents on a weekly basis and 72% rated their relationship with their parents at least an “8” out of “10”. While these relationships did not always run smoothly, nearly all of our 27–28 year olds said that their relationship with their parents was important to them (93%), and that their parents played a major role in their lives (77%).

What your ATP child was doing in 2010–11

At the time of the survey, most young people were in paid employment (83%) or were self-employed (9%). The hours usually worked ranged from 2 to 100 hours per week, with the average being 40.3 hours—so as a group your children typically have busy work lives.

Twelve per cent were in either full- or part-time study. A small number were looking for work (3%) or on a long-term holiday or break (1%). One-in-ten were at home caring for their child or children.

While paid work was the main source of income for most of our 27–28 year olds (90%), many received other financial support, for example from partners/spouses (30%) and/or the government (13%). Most (80%) were “living comfortably” or “doing alright”. However, 16% were “just getting by” and 4% were finding it difficult to make ends meet.

Where your ATP child was living

When the ATP started in 1983, all of our ATP study members were living in Victoria. Twenty-eight years on, 80% were still in Victoria, 18% had moved interstate and 2% were now living overseas.

Of those who had relocated interstate, the majority had moved to warmer climates, with 6% living in Western Australia, 5% in Queensland, and 4% in New South Wales. Among those living overseas, the majority now called the United Kingdom home. However, ATP study members were spread around the globe, with participants living in Europe, Northern America, the Middle East and New Zealand. It is fantastic for the study that we can keep in touch with you and your children, wherever you are.

Who your ATP child was living with

Over half (59%) of our 27–28 year olds were living with a partner or spouse at the time of the survey, and one-in-five (20%) were sharing a flat or house. Sixteen percent were living with their parents, 15% with their own or someone else’s children, while 8% were living alone.

Your ATP child’s relationships

Three quarters of our younger study members (74%) were in committed relationships, with the majority (83%) living with their partner. More than a quarter (28%) were married, and one-in-ten (11%) were engaged to be married. However, many of your sons/daughters were not dating (21%) or were in casual relationships (5%). Sadly, a small number had experienced a marital separation or divorce.

This is just a brief summary of some of the findings from the 2010–11 survey. Look out for more results, including findings from our parent survey, in future newsletters.

What happens to your survey?

Ever wondered what happens to the surveys you and your son/daughter completes, once they reach the ATP team? Here’s a quick overview.

After recording receipt of your survey booklet, all information that could personally identify you (e.g., your name, contact details) is separated from your survey, to protect your personal privacy. A unique ID code is used to link this information. This code enables the research team to link your responses from one survey to another, and parents’ responses with their children’s, and to contact you if necessary.

Your personal information is securely stored in a separate location from your survey responses. Survey booklets and consent forms are stored apart in locked filing cabinets or storerooms, while electronic files are password-protected and stored in accordance with strict data security protocols. Only a small number of trained ATP staff have access to this information. These researchers are required to keep to strict legal and ethical requirements in order to safeguard your data.

When it comes time to analyse your responses, researchers are only given access to de-identified data (files that contain no personal identifying information). Furthermore, when reporting results, we only present group trends, not individual findings. So you can rest assured, your data is in good hands – now and in the future!

News from the ATP team

Professor Ann Sanson officially retired from the University of Melbourne in March 2011, and is now an Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University. While she is cutting down on many of her research activities, she will remain involved with the ATP on a part-time basis. As a member of the ATP research team since the very beginning (in 1983), Ann says:

It feels like part of my family …

Just as we are starting to look at the new generation within the ATP (the children of ATP study members), it is great that there is intergenerational renewal going on among the ATP researchers too. We are so lucky to have such a talented and committed group of younger researchers leading the project into the future.

We wish Ann all the best with her life post-retirement and are delighted that she is continuing her involvement with the ATP.

Future plans

Next year promises to be another busy one for the team, as we look in more detail at the findings from your surveys, and interview many of your children as part of our new ATP Next Generation study. We will include findings from both surveys in our next newsletter.

Happy holidays from our family to yours!

We would like to sincerely thank you for your participation in the ATP over the years. You are part of a famous and highly valued study which could not continue without your support.

From all the ATP team we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season and a wonderful year ahead in 2012.

Contact us

If you want to get in touch with the ATP team, contact us by:

For project updates, please visit the ATP website

The Australian Temperament Project is a joint project between the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the University of Melbourne, the Royal Children's Hospital, and Deakin University. The project is led and managed by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, and is also supported by a grant from the Australian Research Council. Information about the researchers

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