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

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 percent vs. 49 percent) and less likely to . . .

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

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 percent vs. 11 percent).
Have a high sense of self (67 percent vs. 22 percent).

Teens Today 2004 revealed that teens who take positive risks in their lives, their school, and their communities are 20 percent 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 percent vs. 2 percent).
Say they have excellent communication with their parents (55 percent vs. 12 percent).
Say their parents talk to them about their concerns associated with drinking (95 percent vs. 80 percent); drinking and driving (89 percent vs. 66 percent), using marijuana and driving (79 percent vs. 46 percent); illegally using prescription drugs (83 percent vs. 51 percent); and using other drugs (92 percent vs. 72 percent).
Be influenced by parents not to drink (96 percent vs. 73 percent) or use drugs (98 percent vs. 74 percent).
Be honest with their parents about what they are doing and with whom they are spending time (96 percent vs. 84 percent).
Feel happy every day or almost every day (83 percent vs. 55 percent).

Stephen Wallace, M.S.Ed., national chairman and chief executive officer of SADD, Inc. (Students Against Destructive Decisions), has broad experience as a school psychologist and adolescent counselor. He directs the annual Teens Today research project, a partnership of SADD and Liberty Mutual Group, serves as an adjunct professor of psychology at Mount Ida College, and is director of counseling and counselor training at the Cape Cod Sea Camps in Brewster, Massachusetts.

Originally published in the 2006 May/June issue of Camping Magazine.