Quality of Life Important to American Teens

Asked about their life goals, an overwhelming majority of teenagers recently surveyed by Mediamark Research in the USA placed quality of life and relationships with family and friends far above being famous or entering the corporate world.

American teens also show a reality-based approach to finances, according to the 2002 Teenmark survey. While 71% said they independently decide how to spend their money, only 12% agreed with the statement 'credit cards are great.' A full 60% of the respondents agreed 'credit cards are dangerous because they allow you to spend more than you actually have.'

The survey was conducted via mailed questionnaires between April of 2001 and July of 2002. Some 4,600 youths ages 12-19 responded to the survey.

Enjoying life is the most-cited goal among American teenagers followed by 82% who cited 'have good relationships with friends'. College and good relations with parents also ranked high, and 72% agreed that 'having children' was one of their goals. A mere 17% agreed that 'going into the corporate world' was a future goal.

Today teenagers are far from being a carefree generation and in fact most report they live with significant stress in their lives. Slightly more than one-half (51%) of American teenagers report they are stressed out all of the time or sometimes, but teenager girls feel stress considerably more often than their male counterparts. Girls are 34% more likely than boys to feel stress all the time or sometimes and 66% less likely than boys to never feel stressed.

The number one stress for both sexes is the amount of schoolwork they are expected to complete. 66% of teenagers overall chose this as a cause for stress...while 71% of teenager girls consider schoolwork a source of tension.

MRI releases data from its Survey of American Consumers (adults 18+) twice yearly, in the spring and fall. Teenmark is released annually.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas unless otherwise stated.

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