Indicator: 77 - Perception of Youth as Community Assets

 

Why This Is Important

There is a common wisdom that adults view adolescents negatively. Such a negative
perception may influence adults to be less supportive of youth’s needs. Believing that
young people are assets to a community is one way a community keeps children at the
heart of decision-making.

 

Where We Stand

In 2004, a sample of Maine parents was asked whether they agreed or disagreed with
the following statement: “Young people in my community are more of an asset to the
community rather than a burden.” Over three-quarters (80%) either “strongly agreed”
or “agreed”, a higher percentage than was reported in 2001 (72%). The percentage
making this judgment tended to be slightly higher for higher income households.

 

 

Data Sources and Context

Data on this indicator comes from a statewide telephone survey of Maine households
with children present who are age 18 or younger. The respondents to this survey were
adults in the household who self-identified as a parent. The indicator is similar to indicators
used by the Maine Development Foundation in their previous surveys of Maine citizens, or
other national surveys of families, so that the data could be used to monitor trends over time
and to compare Maine to the nation. This 2004-2005 survey was conducted by Critical
Insights, a strategic marketing research firm in Portland, Maine. During the months of
December 2004 and January 2005, 400 Maine adults responded to the survey.

The adults were asked the following: “Do you agree or disagree with the following: Young
people in my community are more of an asset to the community than a burden.”

Only the data in the “all” column is statistically representative of adults in
households with children under the age of 18 in Maine. The information that is
provided by category of household income is a rough estimate using weighted data
based on the 2003 American Communities Survey of the U.S. Census, household
income report for Maine. These categories are estimates only for descriptive
purposes and should not be used to make inferences about all households in Maine
with children under the age of 18.