by SLy, 10 September 2007

What makes you happy? According to a survey conducted jointly by MTV and The Associated Press, spending time with family, spending time with friends and spending time with a significant other ranked first, second and third amongst 13-24 year olds.

Already amongst this age group, there are racial differences, economic differences and difference between the sexes. Caucasians tend to be happier no matter what economic backgroundn they’re from, followed by African Americans and then Hispanics. Young people do feel stress, particularly those with middle class backgrounds. Females feel stress more than males.

Not surprisingly, 13-17 year olds find school the greatest source of stress while those in the 18-24 year age group find jobs and financial matters most stressful.

Asked to define happiness, Stacy Rosales, 23, calls it “just a general stress-free feeling where I’m not really worried about anything. THAT makes me happy.”
Chad Fiedler, 17, said it’s “just waking up in the morning and looking forward to what I’m going to be doing that day.”

Eoshe Roland, 14, defined it as “playing trumpet in my school band.”

65% of those surveyed say they’re happy with the way things are going for them right now. 62% of those surveyed think they’ll be happier in the future than they are now.

source http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20322621/.