Teens see parents as role models

Teenagers are cynical about celebrities like Pete Doherty

Teenagers in the UK look to their parents as role models much more than celebrities such as David Beckham or Pete Doherty, a survey suggests.

Of more than 1,000 youngsters surveyed many expressed "highly positive attitudes" towards their family.

"Mum, dad and siblings are ranked as being the most positive influence," the survey of 13 to 18-year-olds by the Scout Associaton found.

Nine out of 10 teenagers felt pressure from parents to get good school grades.

'More cynical'

"Young people express highly positive attitudes towards their family and believe they have a positive influence," the study said.

"Young people are more cynical, or at least unconvinced, about the influence of celebrities on their lives and indeed feel that celebrities such as Pete Doherty are bad role models."

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that six times more teenagers named their mother as the adult they most admired than celebrities such as footballer David Beckham or pop singer Kylie Minogue.

It also reported fathers were three times more popular than celebrities.

While most of the teenagers said they looked up to their parents, the survey said a quarter of those teenagers polled said their mothers and fathers did not listen to them.

The survey of 1,004 teenagers also found 68% of those polled often felt "bored".

The study was carried out by research consultants on behalf of the Scout Association, which this year celebrates its centenary.