The No. 1 Way to Make Teens Happy

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The No. 1 Way to Make Teens Happy
What makes a teenager happy? It's not sex, booze or rock 'n' roll or even a little cash and the keys to the car, although they probably don't hurt. The No. 1 key to happiness for those ages 13 to 24 is spending time with their family.

That's the surprising (some would say shocking) word from an extensive survey of 1,280 people conducted by The Associated Press and MTV to determine the nature of happiness among America's young people. The teens were asked what one thing makes them happy and 20 percent answered spending time with their family--more than anything else. In addition, nearly 75 percent of teenagers say the relationship they have with their parents makes them happy.

Second to spending time with family is spending time with friends, followed by time with a significant other. No one answered "money" when asked what one thing makes them happy, although kids whose parents have the highest incomes are generally happier with life. However, having highly-educated parents is a stronger predictor of happiness than is income, reports AP.

There are some other findings:

72 percent of whites say they are happy, compared with 56 percent of blacks and 51 percent of Hispanics.
Girls are more stressed than boys. For those 13 to 17, school is the No. 1 source of stress, while those who are 18 to 24 say it's jobs and finances.
Among those ages 13 to 17, being sexually active results in less happiness.
For those who are 18 to 24, sex brings happiness in the moment but not in general.
Belonging to an organized religious group makes people happier.
65 percent say they are happy with the way things are going for them right now.
64 percent of teens whose parents are still married said they wake up happy, compared with 47 percent of those whose parents are divorced.
92 percent say they will either definitely or probably get married someday.
49 percent think they would be happier if they had more money, but the same percentage say they would be just as happy as they are now even if they had more money.
Among the 13 to 17 age group, just 40 percent of those who reported drinking alcohol are happy, compared with 68 percent of those who don't drink.

Among young people who is their hero? The overwhelming answer is one or both of their parents. And if forced to choose between the two, Mom wins--but it's a photo finish. Also mentioned: God, teachers, members of the military, police officers and firefighters. Of public figures, Martin Luther King Jr. was mentioned the most.

--From the Editors at Netscape