World troubles affect parenthood

Many people expressed fears over world terror attacks

One in seven adults is reluctant to have children and one in four puts off planning for the future because of world troubles, according to a survey.

The YouGov survey for UK charity the Mental Health Foundation found that 70% said terrorism is their greatest fear.

Immigration concerns worried 58% of people, with 38% saying they had fears over climate change and 23% fearing a natural disaster.

The survey was carried out ahead of World Mental Health Day on Wednesday.

The YouGov survey found world events left some people feeling powerless (56%), angry (50%), anxious (35%) and depressed (26%).

Anxieties

More than one-third of respondents said they tried to find out more about an issue to help cope with their worries.

Almost the same number said that talking to family and friends provided relief (33%).

Clinical psychologist Dr Michael Reddy said world events and trends could threaten people's sense of security and result in anxieties.

Feeling a threat to one's group from an unknown force, such as immigration, can threaten this sense of security and make people feel anxious Dr Michael Reddy Clinical psychologist

He said: "As social animals, we are sensitive to dangers from other humans that are intentional, such as terrorism.

"Accidental dangers, such as natural disasters, fail to motivate us in the same way.

"Immigration ranks highly as a worry because humans identify themselves as belonging to particular groups who share the same values and codes of behaviour. This is one of our main ways of feeling secure.

"Feeling a threat to one's group from an unknown force, such as immigration, can threaten this sense of security and make people feel anxious.

'Serious mental health issue'

Dr Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said: "The world is currently facing a number of different threats that seem to be resulting in a general level of heightened anxiety and frustration, as this survey shows.

HAVE YOUR SAY My fear is of a society increasingly without decent values Phil Dee, Newport, Wales Send us your comments

"Even if a threat poses very little actual risk, the worry is still real and can impact on a person's day-to-day life and mental wellbeing.

"If angst is reaching a level where adults are contemplating whether or not to have children, then this could be a serious mental health issue because the current global issues aren't going away in a hurry.

"To help lessen any worry, a person should find out more about the issue that is concerning them and talk to others about it."

YouGov surveyed 2,012 adults online.