Idaho Examiner: FAMILY, FAITH IMPORTANT TO YOUNG ADULTS"Common Sense News"

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FAMILY, FAITH IMPORTANT TO YOUNG ADULTS

Posted on: August 21, 2007

Bryan Fischer, Executive Director, Idaho Values Alliance

If you asked most adults what children between the ages of 13 and 24 need to be happy, it’s likely that things like sex, drugs and money would come to mind.

But when 13-24-year-olds themselves were asked that question by the Associated Press and MTV, it turns out that spending time with family was the top answer, followed by spending time with friends and then having a boyfriend or girlfriend. Almost none of the respondents answered “money” when asked what makes them happy.

Best news of all: nearly three-quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy. Also encouraging was the revelation that almost half named one parent or the other when asked to identify their heroes.

Further, most young people look forward to getting married and having children themselves, believing that marriage and family will contribute to their happiness.

And almost half say religion and spirituality are very important, and indicate that belonging to an organized religious group makes them happier.

And contrary to what you might expect, being sexually active actually leads to less happiness among 13-17 year olds, and only temporary but not lasting happiness for 18-24 year olds.

The bottom line is that family and faith continue to be the bedrock on which any healthy, happy and prosperous culture rests. The IVA will continue to work toward public policies that strengthen the family and protect religious freedom, believing that in doing so we are contributing to the success and happiness of the next generation.