Deborah Burke Henderson, SADD 1-877-SADD-INC

Glenn Greenberg, Liberty Mutual (617) 574-5874

Other Key Findings from Teens Today 2005

Parents and Teens … Relationships, Communication, Trust, and Truth
High school teens whose parents communicate about and recognize or celebrate important transitions are significantly more likely than other teens to …

• Report having an extremely close relationship with their parents (55% vs. 25%).
  
  
• Say they have excellent communication with their parents (49% vs. 22%).
  
  
• State their parents talk to them about their concerns associated with drinking and driving (95% vs. 79%), using marijuana (94% vs. 76%), using marijuana and driving (89% to 47%), illegally using prescription drugs (85% vs. 38%) or other drugs (95% vs. 63%), and having sexual intercourse (93% vs. 74%), oral sex (75% vs. 47%), and other sexual activity (71% vs. 49%).
  
  
• Be influenced by parents not to drink (87% vs. 53%) or use drugs (91% vs. 69%).
  
  
• Be honest with their parents about what they are doing and with whom they are spending time (96% vs. 77%).

Teens and Mental Health … Feeling Happy, Stressed, Bored, and Depressed
High school teens whose parents communicate about and recognize or celebrate important transitions are significantly more likely than other teens to say they feel happy every day or almost every day (83% vs. 49%) and less likely to …

• Say they feel bored every day or almost every day (11% vs. 25%).
  
  
• Report they feel stressed (11% vs. 29%) every day or almost every day.
  
  
• State they feel depressed at least once per week (11% vs. 21%).

Rites of Passage … Positive Risk-Taking and Sense of Self
High school teens whose parents communicate about and recognize or celebrate important transitions are significantly more likely than other teens to …

• Take positive risks (28% vs. 11%).
  
  
• Have a high sense of self (67% vs. 22%).

Teens Today 2004 revealed that teens who take positive risks in their lives, their school, and their communities are 20% more likely than other teens to avoid alcohol and drugs and to describe their driving as safe. Teens Today 2003 revealed that young people with a high Sense of Self are significantly more likely than other teens to avoid alcohol and drugs and to feel positive about their own identity, growing independence, and relationships with peers.

Rites of Passage … Middle School Teens
Middle school teens whose parents communicate about and recognize or celebrate important transitions are significantly more likely than other teens to …

• Report they have an extremely close relationship with their parents (69% vs. 22%).
  
  
• Say they have excellent communication with their parents (55% vs. 12%).
  
  
• Say their parents talk to them about their concerns associated with drinking (95% vs. 80%), drinking and driving (89% vs. 66%), using marijuana and driving (79% vs. 46%), illegally using prescription drugs (83% vs. 51%), and using other drugs (92% vs. 72%).
  
  
• Be influenced by parents not to drink (96% vs. 73%) or use drugs (98% vs. 74%).
  
  
• Be honest with their parents about what they are doing and with whom they are spending time (96% vs. 84%).
  
  
• Feel happy every day or almost every day (83% vs. 55%).

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