Parent Community Health Survey 2025 

Introduction

Lambton Public Health conducted a community health survey with parents to learn about the physical and mental health of children in Lambton County. 

The telephone survey used a representative sample of 400 parents in Lambton County, who were 18 years of age and older, living within Lambton County, and had at least one child under the age of 18 years. The survey was administered between November 18 and December 3, 2025. It used both cell phones and landlines.  

Quotas and weighting were used to ensure the sample was representative of the parent population by age, gender, and geographical area (urban, semi-urban, and rural). 

Background

Lambton Public Health previously conducted a survey of parents in 2019. In the subsequent six years, much has occurred contextually and demographically within society and within the County of Lambton.  

Contextual Changes Since the 2019 Survey

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected trust in the healthcare system, largely due to the spread of misinformation and disinformation, which continues to challenge institutional credibility. These issues are predominantly fueled by online sources, especially social media, leading to substantial hurdles regarding vaccination and vaccine hesitancy.  

Demographic Changes

According to the 2021 Census, Canada’s population, including Ontario’s, is aging, with lower birth rates and more one-child families becoming prevalent. County of Lambton data from the 2021 census and other reports show a decrease in the number of working-age individuals and young families compared to the period from 2016 to 2019, notwithstanding moderate overall population growth primarily driven by seniors. 

These changes have impacted those receiving and seeking Lambton Public Health programs and services. The demographic shifts are reflected in the changing profile of parents surveyed in 2025, who generally have fewer children, and fewer children under two years old. Comparisons between the 2019 and 2025 surveys cannot be made with confidence and thus are not included in the report. 

Key Concerns and Issues about Child Health and Parenting

Parents were asked about potential concerns they might have regarding their children, health, and parenting.  

• A large majority (71%) expressed concern about affording essentials for their family. 
• More than half (54%) are concerned about their child’s screen time, and this is of greater concern among parents with kids 10 years and older. 
• A large majority of parents with children 6 years and older say they are concerned about bullying or cyberbullying (79%), and Internet security (73%). 
• Roughly half of parents with children 14 years and older say they are concerned about their child smoking cigarettes or vaping e-cigarettes (54%) and drug or alcohol use (50%). 

Baseline Awareness and Use of LPH Programs and Services to Support Parents

An overwhelming majority (86%) of parents surveyed are aware of Lambton Public Health. Half (48%) of parents are aware that Lambton Public Health offers programs and services to support parents in the community. 

Parents were asked if they knew about several free child health and parenting programs. 

• Parents were most aware of Lambton Public Health Family Health Line (54%).  
• About four in ten are aware of Lambton Public Health Breastfeeding Supports (45%), and annual child eye exams covered by OHIP up to age 18 years (42%).  
• Three in ten parents are aware of free oral health programs (30%), Postpartum Mental Health Support Group (30%), and free eyeglasses program navigation support (28%).  
• About one-quarter are aware of Lambton Public Health Prenatal Classes (25%), and Healthy Babies, Healthy Children, a home visiting program (22%).  
• Fewer than two in ten parents are aware of Lambton Public Health follow-up after birth (16%), and Lambton Public Health Nurse at drop-ins (13%). 

Among those who have used at least one of these programs or supports, an overwhelming majority (85%) were satisfied with them. 

Attitudes Towards and Awareness of Childhood Immunization

Seven in ten (70%) parents would vaccinate their children without reservation; this figure is higher among parents with a child 10 years and older. Only 8% say they are against vaccination, while 22% say they are not sure. 

Three-quarters (75%) of parents report that they are aware of the requirement in accordance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act to report immunizations their child receives to Lambton Public Health.  

Mental Health of Parents

Seven in ten (69%) parents rate their mental health as excellent, very good, or good.  

Three-quarters (77%) indicate that their mental health is about the same compared to last year.  

Five percent of parents say they have received mental health resources and/or supports in the last year. 

Child Development and Mental and Physical Health

57% of parents of children aged 10-17 years reported that their child has experienced anxiety, 22% reported depression, 13% reported loneliness, and 13% reported disordered eating behaviours. Note these parental reports do not necessarily reflect formal diagnoses of these conditions for their child. 

Parents of a child aged 6 years or older were asked about their child’s engagement in some activities.  

• Parents report that, on average, their child spends 2.7 days per week doing physical activity for at least 60 minutes.  
• Parents report that, on average, their child spends 2.8 hours per day on screens on a weekday, and this grows to 5.1 hours on screens per day on a weekend.  
• Parents report that, on average, their child has a good night’s sleep 6.2 nights in a usual week.  

Parents of a child aged 10 years or older were asked whether their child has used alcohol, caffeinated energy drinks, cannabis, cigarettes or vaping/e-cigarettes in the past year.  

• Cigarettes were the most frequently used substance, with 3% of parents saying their child has used them on a daily or weekly basis. 
• 31% of parents reported that their child had consumed caffeinated energy drinks at least once in the past year.  
• 17% of parents reported that their child had consumed alcohol at least once in the past year, followed by cigarettes (13%), cannabis (3%), and vaping/e-cigarettes (3%). 

Two-thirds (64%) of parents indicate that their child eats a fruit or vegetable with each meal or snack always or often. 

Eight in ten (78%) parents indicate that they usually eat together as a family every day or almost every day of the week.