Questions covering home-life, family and friends revealed that adults are probably the last to hear about teenagers' problems. He noted that, in all cases, fathers in particular ''emerged very badly as sources to be contacted for help''. Whether it be school problems, health, career, friends or family matters, few turn to their father for help. It is to their mothers they are most likely to turn, but then mainly with health problems. It was only money and career matters which induced five per cent of teenagers to ask their fathers for advice.
Friends are the popular confidants .
Less than 15 per cent said they would consult a teacher for help with a problem at school. Less than 25 per cent would turn to a parent about a family problem. They want their parents' advice but feel they cannot ask, believes Dr. Day. This was especially prevalent among Chinese school pupils. Instead, they turn to books, stories and what Dr. Day describes as ' 'notoriously unreliable magazines''.