What Makes Kids Happy
Associated Press, 8/20/07
An open ended question asked to 1,280 13 ” 24 year olds
Top answer: Spending time with family
Next, Spending time with friends
3rd, Spending time with significant other
Nearly of young people say their relationship with parents makes them happy
Money? Almost no one said “money” when asked what makes them happy; Higher incomes correlated with happier with life, but having highly educated parents is a stronger predictor of happiness than income
Sex? Being sexually active for 13-17 year olds = less happiness; for 18-24 year olds sex leads to greater happiness for the moment, but not in general
Close to half say religion and spirituality are very important. Simply belonging to an organized religious group makes people happier
School? Most young people in school says school makes them happy
Overwhelming, young people think marriage would make them happy and they want to be married someday
Who are their heroes? Nearly half said one or both of their parents
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