TruthBook Religious News Blog

Wednesday, August 22, 2007 — Time: 8:18:23 AM EST
By Erin E. O’Neill

When it comes to their children, many adults probably think being able to drive the family car, hang out with friends at the mall and play the latest video games are the keys to happiness.

Little do they know that a large percentage of today’s youth would much rather spend time with mom and dad than listen to music, watch TV or, yes, even hang out with friends.

Kyle Newhart, 13, of Marietta thinks quality time with his family is very important but his dad, Rod, is pleasantly surprised by the results of a recent Associated Press/MTV survey that puts spending time with family at the top of the heap of things that make young folks happy.

Kyle Newhart does count video games among his favorite pastimes but he also enjoys playing board games with his dad and mom, Anita. Dinner together, reading and road trips are also important to their family dynamic, according to Anita Newhart.

The survey of 1,280 young people, ages 13 to 24, included an extensive list of questions ranging from “What one thing in life makes you most happy?” to “Who would you say are your heroes?”

The top answer when young people were asked what makes them happy was their families. When asked to name their heroes, Spider-Man, Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods couldn’t compete with mom, who squeaked by dad by a mere 8 percent. Together, parents fared better than anyone else, including Martin Luther King Jr. and George Bush, as influences on their kids’ lives.

The nationwide survey was conducted online from a random sampling of households with landline telephone numbers, both listed and unlisted, according to The Associated Press. Web access was provided to those who needed it by the company Knowledge Networks, which conducted the survey.

The results of the survey aren’t as surprising to some people, however.

Cathy Harper, coordinator for The Right Path, works with many area youth and says the survey shows what she knew all along.

“Family time is very important,” Harper said. “Kids really do want parents and adults involved in their lives.

“Everybody needs to feel supported, even as we get older,” she said.

Overall, the survey is positive. However, a little more disheartening are results showing white youth to be happier than blacks and Hispanics and that overall stress levels are up compared to a similar study conducted in 1996.

What stresses kids out? For 18 to 24-year-olds, the major stressor is finances. For teens, it’s school that is the greatest concern.

The Newharts made the decision to take their son out of school in the fourth grade and homeschool him to the end of the year. Beginning in the fifth grade, Kyle was enrolled in online classes, which he continues. They said school stress was a major factor in their decision and now he is much less stressed over school work.

When it comes to family finances, Rod Newhart believes full disclosure is the only way to let kids know what is going on.

“Kids are a lot smarter and more aware,” he said. “Not talking about (finances) is a detriment.”

Harper agrees.

“Kids worry about finances because they hear their parents talking about it,” she said. “Parents need to talk to their kids to make them feel less stressed.”

And while money doesn’t rank among the things that make kids happiest, it does play a major role when it comes to funding education and recreation.

“Money can’t provide happiness,” said Harper, “but it does provide opportunities.”

A lot of activities are available for area youth, regardless of their financial abilities, due in part to programs through The Right Path, Ely Chapman Education Foundation and the Marietta Family YMCA. Harper does caution against spreading yourself too thin.

“Don’t be in 500 things,” she said. “One or two activities is fine. Have good family time. Even if you have dinner at 9 o’clock at night, do it together.”

Spiritual fulfillment also seems to play a big role in determining happiness, with 62 percent of those polled saying they believe that a higher power has influence over the things that make them happy.

These figures are encouraging to Roger Rush, minister of the Church of Christ at Sixth and Washington streets in Marietta.

“The survey is right on. Kids will be happiest when we give ourselves. Time with family coupled with religion helps to keep families together,” he said. “We try to focus on that.”

Rush has seen many of his young parishioners grow into successful adults in his 22 years with the church and he attributes that to a strong family unit.

“Kids that come from families who spend time together, worship together — those kids are thriving,” he said.

Labels: Erin E. O’Neill, family, happiness, money, spirituality, teenagers