Indicator: 52 - Youth Feeling Supported in Their Family

 

Why This Is Important

A basic responsibility of parents and a family is to provide one another and their children
with love and support. Young people who recognize these types of assets in their lives are
less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Especially for younger adolescents, parental caring
and values are often cited as the most important reason why a young person does not
experiment with alcohol and other drugs.

 

 

Where We Stand

Similar to previous years, 84% of youth surveyed in 2004 “agreed” or “strongly agreed”
that they feel useful and important in their families. There is no statistical difference by gender
or high school grade level on this indicator.

• 89% of all youth surveyed “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that their parents do give
  them help and support when it is needed;
• 90% of all youth “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that their parents often tell them that
  they love them; and

80% stated that there are clear rules about what they can and cannot do in their household.

 

Data Sources and Context

This Maine Marks indicator is adapted from the work of the Search Institute
( www.search-institute.org ) and their research into developmental assets of young people.
The developmental assets framework is popular with many who work in the field of youth
development. The data source for this indicator is a statewide telephone survey of youth
grades 9-12 conducted by Critical Insights, a strategic marketing research firm in Portland,
Maine. A total of 403 telephone interviews with Maine youth were done in November 2000,
402 in November 2001, 400 in November 2002, and 400 in December 2004. Due to
inadequate funding, there were no interviews conducted in 2003.

The youth were asked how much they agreed or disagreed with the following statements:

• My parents give me help and support when I need it.
• My parents often tell me they love me.
• In my family, I feel useful and important.
• In my family, there are clear rules about what I can and cannot do.

Only the data in the “all” column is statistically representative of youth statewide
in grades 9-12. The other gender and grade level information provided is a rough
estimate developed with weighted data using the attendance reports from the Maine
State Department of Education. An average of the proportion of students in each
secondary grade level was found over the past five years. This average proportion
was applied to weight these 2004 survey results. Therefore this information is
primarily descriptive and should not be used to make inferences about all youth in
these grade levels in Maine.