Best Buy Releases "Teen Voice 2010," a National Study Highlighting the Importance of Meaningful Teen-Adult Relationships
Only one in five 15-year-olds in the United States have the kind of meaningful relationships with adults beyond their family that help them succeed in life, according to a study sponsored by Best Buy and conducted by Search Institute.
Teen Voice 2010: Relationships That Matter to America's Teens, a national survey of 1,860 15-year-olds, documents a significant gap between the support teens need and the support they receive.
Teen Voice 2010: focuses on three key strengths that make a difference in teens' lives:
- SPARKS: their deepest passions and interests
- VOICE: their confidence, skills and opportunities to influence things that matter to them, and
- RELATIONSHIPS: their access to high-quality resources and relationships that help them nuture their strengths
Teens with high level of sparks, voice and relationships do better on every academic, psychological, social-emotional and behavioral outcome. Yet, more than one-third of 15-year-olds surveyed did not score high on any of the strengths and only 7 percent experience high levels on all three strengths.
The study finds that teens need positive, sustained and meaningful relationships with extended family, teachers, mentors, grandparents, neighbors, and other caring adults.
"Teens say that adults who "get them" show it by listening to them and paying attention, being honest and dependable, and enjoying their time together."
Additionally, teens need confidence, skills, and opportunities to speak out about and influence the things that matter to them in their own lives, their families, their communities and the world.
"The core strengths identified in this study are critical for helping teens do well in school, contribute to their communities and make positive choices. Cultivating these strengths can help to ensure that young people are ready for college, work and life."
Click here to check out the video.
Share your thoughts about this study on the MOUSE Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from you!
Teen Voice is part of Best Buy @15, a program to connect with teens, listen to what they have to say about the world, give voice to their perspectives and invest Best Buy's resources to support teen efforts to lead social change. MOUSE is honored to be an @15 partner and to have participated in the @15 Change Exchange during Summer 2009.
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