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An extensive survey - more than 100 questions asked of 1,280 people ages 13-24 - conducted by The Associated Press and MTV explored the nature of happiness among America's young people. Spending time with family was the top answer. Next was spending time with friends, followed by time with a significant other. And nearly three-quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy. "They're my foundation," said Kristiana St. John, 17, a high-school student from Queens in New York. "My mom tells me that even if I do something stupid, she's still going to love me no matter what. Just knowing that makes me feel very happy and blessed." While most young people are happy overall with the way their lives are going, there are racial differences: the poll shows whites to be happier, across economic categories, than blacks and Hispanics. While 72 percent of whites say they're happy with life in general, just 56 percent of blacks and 51 percent of Hispanics say that. When asked to name their heroes, Blacks and Hispanics were more likely than whites to name their mothers.
Source: Associated Press, "Happiness For America's Young People Often Means Family Ties, Faith, Belonging," by Jocelyn Noveck and Trevor Tompson, www.AP.org, August 19, 2007