Despite a widespread view among adults of an impending social and personal crisis among the nation's youth, a major survey conducted with children and teenagers reveals that they are overwhelmingly happy and satisfied with their lives and prospects for the future.


The American Chicle Youth Poll, a landmark study conducted by the Roper Organization for the American Chicle Group of Warner-Lambert Co., Morris Plains, N.J., is currently considered to be the most comprehensive and systematic study ever to ask children and teens about their hopes and worries, their families and schools and what they think about a broad range of subjects. The results are in sharp contrast to numerous surveys of adults, who, when asked about young peoples' issues, see the youth as more vulnerable and besieged than ever before.

"The American Chicle Youth Poll shows that the nation's youth are, by and large, happy and well-adjusted. While they are clearly aware of the problems of the world around them, and poverty and divorce bring unhappiness to some, it would be a mistake to conclude that there is a malaise among the young," says Burns W. Roper, chairman of the Roper Organization, New York City. "The perspectives of young people - which are sometimes different from the views of adult Americans - provide solid ground for hope and optimism for the future."

Bringing us close

While Warner-Lambert typically conducts market research studies for its products which many young people enjoy - Trident, Chiclets, Dentyne, Chewels, Freshen Up and Sticklets chewing gums, Bubblicious bubble gum, and Certs and Dynamints confections - the survey was commissioned to provide society and Warner-Lambert with a broader understanding of today's youth.


"We are hoping that the study will bring people closer together, not only on a broad base for society's better understanding of young people, but within families as well, to spur further communication about some of its findings," says Larry Du Lude, marketing research manager of the American Chicle Group.

Du Lude, who was responsible for planning and administering the project, says Warner-Lambert has since built internal employee programs around the study to help parents within the company become more aware of the feelings and concerns of today's youth. The study is also helping the company to better understand the youth market and enhance its marketing efforts.

Size and method

The survey was conducted among a nationwide cross-section of 1,000 American young people aged 8-17 who are attending school. All interviews were conducted in person in the homes of respondents and the work of all the interviewers was validated by telephone. Interviews were conducted between Nov. 15, 1986, and Nov. 26, 1986. The sample of youth interviewed in this study is representative of the population of 8-17 year-olds attending school in the Continental U.S. A three-stage, stratified probability sample of interviewing locations was employed:

1. After all the counties in the nation had been stratified by population size within each geographic region, 100 counties were selected at random proportionate to population;

2. Cities and towns within the sample counties were drawn at random proportionate to the population;

3. Where census tract statistics within cities and towns were available, tracts were selected at random proportionate to population. Where no statistics were available, rural route segments were drawn at random.

Interviewers were then given starting points at which to begin interviewing within the census tract or rural route segment. To ensure proper representation of each group in the sample, quotas were imposed for sex and age levels of respondents. While the assigned quotas produced the correct number of males and females aged 8-12 and 13-17, there were small imbalances when the sample was examined in finer age terms, e.g., too few 8-10 year-olds, too many 11 or 12 year-olds. Accordingly, the sample was weighed to achieve the correct proportions of males and females 810, 11 or 12, 13 or 14, and 15-17.

For the most part, the questionnaires for 8-12 year-olds and 13-17 year-olds were identical. Certain questions, pertinent or suitable only for older respondents, were not asked of younger respondents.

The study was divided up into four major areas: The general mood of American youth, their views on their family and family life, how the youth grade the schools they attend, and their perspectives on social issues.

General mood

The first portion of the study examines the youths' satisfaction with their home lives, their school lives, and their personal situation. It also explores their major concerns in a broader national context, and their expectations for the future.

One of the most significant findings which surfaced in this section of the poll is that American youth do not share the sense of panic that characterizes the opinions of so many adults when it comes to "youth issues." They identify certain problems in their families and in their education and they do see room for improvements. But they do not perceive the impending crises in their homes and schools that so many adult analysts have predicted.

The children and teen-agers interviewed are generally satisfied with their lives at home and their schools.

Nine out of 10 (90%) of young children and teen-agers, boys and girls, black and whites, say their home life is happy. Those who have been through a divorce and those from lower- income homes, however, are somewhat less happy than others.

Almost as many of the respondents (84%) say they are satisfied with the school they attend and 69% say they like the town or city where they live "a lot."

Many aspects of youngsters' lives give them satisfaction and pride as well, such as being an American (95%), the friends they have (92%), and the way they get along with their family (85%).

Personal concerns

Like their parents and other adults, young people are attuned to the myriad of problems which surround them and many are matters of personal concern.

At the top of the list is the kidnapping of children and teen-agers, a concern among 76% of the youngsters. About two-thirds (65%) of the sample are also personally concerned about the possibility of nuclear war and the spread of AIS. More than half - 52% - say they are very concerned about the use of drugs by professional athletes, many of whom are thought to be role models for our nation's youth.

Matters of slightly less concern (to 47% each) are the possibility that they may some day have to fight in a war, and air and water pollution. At the bottom of the list of personal concerns, cited by 39%, is the increasing number of divorces among parents. Surprisingly, this is of no greater concern to children whose parents have been divorced (41%) than those whose have not (38%). 

Home and family

The second portion of the study examines young peoples' relations with their parents and their siblings. It evaluates the "problem areas" in home life and suggests possible ways to improve them. It discusses how children perceive their parents' performance in guiding them through their lives and takes a closer look at the impact of working mothers on childrens' livelihood.

As previously mentioned, overall happiness with home life is high. Generally, this feeling among youth is uniform across the board. However, two groups of children stand out as being somewhat less happy than others: Those who have been through a divorce and those from lower class homes.

Despite this, the thing which most of the children say they are happy about is the amount of love which their parents show them. Fully 93% feel this way. While they are happy with the amount of love they receive, however, children are somewhat less happy with the amount of time which their parents spend with them (79%).

The majority of children (74%) feel that they spend the right amount of time with their families. But even more importantly, children enjoy the time they spend with their families. Nearly eight in 10 (78%) say that regardless of how much time they spend with their families, the times they spend together are times which they enjoy a lot.

Getting along

Better relations with their brothers and sisters and being able to talk openly with their parents about things which are important to them are the two top priorities of America's youth for making home life better. Both are cited by four in 10 respondents. These are followed closely by four other factors: Being treated more an adult by their parents (35%); spending more time with their parents (35%); families having more money (34%); and having more responsibility given to them (32%).

While this is the overall agenda, somewhat different priorities are found for younger children than for teen-agers.

Asked about 11 important things that influence childrens' lives, the majority opinion among American youth is that parents place just about the right amount of emphasis on all 11. However, there are degrees of differences which suggest areas where youths feel their parents place too much emphasis and where not enough emphasis is placed.

The primary areas where respondents feel their parents place too much importance are their grades in school (24% say they place too much emphasis, while only 6% say too little emphasis), and the amount of TV they watch (23% say too much emphasis, while 8 % say too little emphasis).

Those areas where children feel that parents place perhaps too little importance are cultural activities (27% say their parents place too little emphasis, against only 4% who say they place too much emphasis). Also cited are the amount of exercise they get (23% say too much emphasis; 4% say not enough) and extracurricular activities (20% say too much emphasis; 5 % say not enough).

Closely related to the question of parental guidance is the question of discipline. Here, a strong 86% majority of youngsters say that the level of discipline in their homes is "about right." Only 8% say the discipline at home is "too strict"; 4% say it is "not strict enough."

Finally, one other significant area addressed in this section of the poll was what the youth felt about mothers working outside the home.

The study shows that today's youth are well in tune with the fast-rising number of working women. Nearly three-quarters of the children interviewed (71%) have mothers who work. About half (46%) have mothers who work full-time, while mothers of a quarter (25%) work part?time.

The overall verdict on working mothers, from the childrens' perspective, is a favorable one. When confronted by the choice of having a working mother, American youth vote convincingly (59% to 34%) for an employed mother. Teen-agers, however, believe younger children (12 or younger) suffer when mothers work. But the younger children don't agree.

Grading schools

The third section of the study looks at students' evaluations of the important subjects to be studied in schools, how well their schools are providing the basic elements of education and where improvements could be made. It also reveals students' aspirations once they graduate from high school.

While students see room for improvement in their schools, vast majorities of both children and teen-agers (84%) say they are personally satisfied with the school they go to.

Asked to give their schools a grade from "A"-"F", 48% of the students give the American school system a solid "B" for the overall quality of education and the learning environment it provides. Twenty-nine percent give it an "A."

A majority (53%) of students see the subjects they learn - compared to making friends, getting along with others and extracurricular activities - as the most important thing about school.

Over nine in 10 young children (92%) say the basics - arithmetic and reading - are important. Eighty-six percent think science is important, while 80% see computer skills, history and current events/social studies as important.

Among 13-17 year-olds, the same priorities occur. Over nine in 10 say the basics - math (94%) and English (91%) are important.

Asked how schools can be improved, 60% say more modern equipment - computers, VCRs, film projector - would help. Almost half, 47%, call for more attention to the teaching of basic skills. An almost equal percentage (46%) say more attention by parents to what children are learning and how well they are doing would improve their schools. Half of the 13-17 year-olds want parents to pay more attention to what they are learning in school, compared with four in 10 of younger children. One third of the students call for better teachers.

Off to college

Fully 80% of today's young people expect to attend college. If they follow through, their generation would be by far the best educated in American history. This level of interest in college education is uniformly high across all demographic groups.

Furthermore, the survey shows that 69% of today's students say they know what they want to be when they finish school. The most preferred jobs are those in health care; 16 % seek careers in this area. This is followed by various blue collar jobs or jobs in the trades (such as construction, beautician), 8%; teaching, 7%; arts and entertainment, 6%; and sports and athletics, 6%.

Social issues

The final portion of the study asks America's youth about some of the more sensitive issues and problems confronting American society today. Two of these are substance abuse and teen-age pregnancy.

Eighty-one percent of teen-age students say at least some smoking occurs among peers. Over two-thirds say they are aware of at least some drinking (68%) and sexual activity (67%) among their peers. Over half say they are aware that at least some crime (58%), drug abuse (58%) and marijuana use (55%) occurs.

Forty-three percent say that they have knowledge of at least some teenage pregnancy; 13% say it happens a lot. Twenty-three percent say they have knowledge of at least some cocaine and crack use (23%) and 6% say it goes on a lot around them.

To improve the situation, the youth pointed to two varieties of solutions: Enforcement and education.

Although most teen-agers think that discipline in their schools generally is adequate, they nevertheless support certain specific enforcement measures that could lead to less substance abuse and less crime. Majorities favor giving schools the authority to search students' lockers and personal possessions for drugs, liquor and weapons.

Educational steps that could be taken include courses on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and sex education classes. Roughly half of all students say their schools offer courses on drug and alcohol abuse and the overwhelming weight of opinion is that these classes are good.

Concerning sex education, 61% of teen-agers say it should be taught in the home; 55% say it should be taught in the schools. One-third of all students say their schools offer sex education classes and fully two-thirds (67%) of students who have them say they consider their classes to be good.

AIDS, busing

Other social issues that are often at the center of adults' debate over youth include school prayer, busing, the admission of AIDS victims to public schools, and the right of homosexuals to teach in the schools. The American Chicle Youth Poll provides one of the first insights into young peoples' views on these delicate subjects and finds that the most divisive issue is the admission of AIDS victims, with 40% saying students with AIDS should be admitted to school and 43% saying they should not.

Students were also asked whether homosexuals should or should not be allowed to teach in the public school system. Roughly half think they should (49%); four in 10 think they should not (41% ).

By virtually the same margin, students oppose having prayers required every day but few of them have objections to a moment of silence. Fully 75% of those in non-public schools favor organized prayer, while those in public schools are evenly split: 37% think there should be a moment of silence.

The question of busing to achieve racial integration does not appear to be a source of dissension nearly as much as school prayer. Nearly two-thirds of those interviewed (64%) say there should be busing to achieve racial integration.

In sum, American youth, too, are troubled by broader social problems. Like their elders, they often voice conflicting opinions on the best solutions to them. They are, in many senses, a reflection of the society around them. And when looking at these controversies and issues in the larger society, it is perhaps here that young people and adults think most closely alike.