William Penn Life, 2004 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-05-01 / 5. szám
HealthPage National study links teens’ ‘Sense of Self to alcohol, drug use and sexual activity How teenagers feel about themselves plays a significant role in whether they choose to drink or use other drugs, according to a report released recently by Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and Liberty Mutual Group. The Teens Today 2003 study also reveals that a teen's "Sense of Self," can influence sexual behavior, reaction to peer pressure, and, importantly, be affected by a teen's relationships with parents. "Sense of Self" is a young adults' self-evaluation on their progress in three key developmental areas: identity formation, independence and peer relationships. The report finds that teens with a high Sense of Self feel more positive about their own identity, growing independence and relationships with peers than do teens with a low Sense of Self. Specifically, high Sense of Self teens reported feeling smart, successful, responsible and confident, and cited positive relationships with parents. Also, significantly, the study revealed that: • High Sense of Self teens are more likely to avoid alcohol and drug use; • Low Sense of Self teens are more likely to use alcohol and "harder" drugs such as ecstasy and cocaine; and, • Parental involvement strongly correlates with teens' Sense of Self and the decisions they make regarding alcohol and drug use. "This information is critically important in helping us to better understand the role that self-definition plays in predisposing young adults to destructive decision-making, establishing a clear link between 'who they are' and what they do," said Stephen Wallace, chairman and chief executive officer of the national SADD organization. Among the key findings demonstrating the importance of Sense of Self and parental relationships:- 62 percent of teens with a high Sense of Self report that their relationship with their parents helps make them feel good about themselves, while only about one-third of low Sense of Self teens report the same.- Only 30 percent of high school teens whose parents provide a strong level of guidance have used drugs, compared to 48 percent of high school teens whose parents do not provide strong guidance.- Less than half (47 percent) of high school teens whose parents provide a strong level of guidance have used alcohol, compared to 80 percent of high school teens whose parents do not provide strong guidance.- Teens with a high Sense of Self report overwhelmingly that they feel respected by their parents (93 percent) and close to their parents (85 percent), while teens with a low Sense of Self report lower levels of respect from their parents (8 percent) and closeness to their parents (12 percent).- Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of teens believe it is very likely they will lose their parents trust if caught drinking alcohol; two-thirds (67 percent) report the same with respect to drug use. What Does This Mean For Families? These findings are consistent with past Teens Today studies that have shown that teens who report regular, open communication with their parents about important issues say they are more likely to try to live up to their parents' expectations and less likely to drink, use drugs or engage in Health Links To learn more about the Today Teens 2003 study and what parents and teens can do to help teens stay away from alcohol, drugs and destructive behavior, log onto the website of Students Against Destructive Decisions at: 3 www.saddonline.com SADD National P.O. Box 800 Marlborough, MA 01752 1-877-SADD-INC Fax: 1-508-481-5759 6 Willi» Pm Life, May 2004
