Important Relationships and Happiness

I run into a lot of people that are worried about the impact of technology on our kids. It’s nice to see that most still find more enjoyment and support from their relationships to other people than from their xbox and ipod.  But there is a cloud on the horizon.

Percent of those who say relationships make them happy:

• Relationships with Friends—85%
• Relationships with Family—76%
• Relationships with Parents—74%
• Relationships with Boy/Girlfriends—73%

 The Roles friends play in maintaining a healthy happy outlook

 80% say that having lots of close friends is very or somewhat important.

23% go out with friends to stop feeling unhappy.

67% say that going out with friends made them feel frequently or occasionally happier.

A Disturbing Footnote

For those that think  technology has too much influence over our kids life’s, there was some troubling information in this survey.

Increasingly kids identify with friends they have never met in person. Thankfully most (frighteningly, NOT All ) still make a distinction between real life friends and virtual friends.

33% say they have friends online whom they’ve never met in person.

9% say there is NO DIFFERENCE between friends made online only and those made in person

Will young people like David ever find the motivation to overcome some of their shyness and connect one on one with people, or will technology become a crippling crutch?

“I couldn’t live without it. I’m very shy and have a hard time meeting people.” David Y., 22 years old, Phoenix

What do you think, Should we be worried?

More from the MTV and The Associated Press’s in-depth, seven-month study into happiness and young people. For a copy of the full MTV/AP poll, click here to view the PDF.

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