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Adolescent Center: Trends & Research
The Trends section is designed to keep you up-to-date on what's happening within our churches and in the broader culture and society that is having an impact on youth ministry and adolescent faith formation today. The Research section is designed to provide reports and summaries of social and religious research studies on youth that you can use in teaching and workshops, in program development, and in planning for youth ministry and adolescent faith formation. To select an article just click on the title. For some of the links you will be going directly to the research study's website.
New Additions
Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites - Amanda Lenhart, Mary Madden, Aaron Smith, Kristen Purcell, Kathryn Zickuhr, Lee Rainie
(Pew Internet & American Life Project)
As social media use has become pervasive in the lives of American teens, a Pew Research study finds that 69% of the teenagers who use social networking sites say their peers are mostly kind to one another on such sites. Still, 88% of these teens say they have witnessed people being mean and cruel to another person on the sites, and 15% report that they have been the target of mean or cruel behavior on social network sites. These findings and others are part of a new in-depth study that examines teens’ behavior and experiences on social network sites, their privacy and safety practices, and the role of parents in digital safekeeping. Social media use is widespread among teens. Fully 95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and 80% of online teens are users of social media sites.
(Source: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Teens-and-social-media.aspx)
Teens, Kindness and Cruelty on Social Network Sites - Amanda Lenhart, Mary Madden, Aaron Smith, Kristen Purcell, Kathryn Zickuhr, Lee Rainie
(Pew Internet & American Life Project)
As social media use has become pervasive in the lives of American teens, a Pew Research study finds that 69% of the teenagers who use social networking sites say their peers are mostly kind to one another on such sites. Still, 88% of these teens say they have witnessed people being mean and cruel to another person on the sites, and 15% report that they have been the target of mean or cruel behavior on social network sites. These findings and others are part of a new in-depth study that examines teens’ behavior and experiences on social network sites, their privacy and safety practices, and the role of parents in digital safekeeping. Social media use is widespread among teens. Fully 95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and 80% of online teens are users of social media sites.
(Source: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2011/Teens-and-social-media.aspx)
15 Thriving Indicators - Search Institute
Search Institute has developed a list of 15 "thriving indicators," or constructive behaviors, postures, and commitments that societies value and need in youth. These indicators serve as a way of evaluating and analyzing program success based on positive outcomes, instead of negative ones; in other words, they allow us to talk about what's right with kids, instead of what's "wrong" with them.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
Almost Christian - An Interview with Kenda Creasy Dean
The interview with the author of Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church explores Dean's response to the National Study on Youth and Religion (NSYR). Dean uses the study's findings to deliver a challenging wake-up call to the mainline church, which she believes is passing off a mutant form of Christianity to its young people. In the interview Kenda talks about the study's findings on teen faith, the "watered-down version of Christianity" prevalent in mainline churches, why and how the church must rediscover its sense of mission and faith language, and ultimately where hope lies for the future of the mainline church and young people longing for a faith worth living - and dying - for.
The Demographics of Spirituality and Religiosity among Youth: International & U.S. Patterns - Laura Lippman and Hugh McIntosh
This new Child Trends research brief tracing religiosity and spirituality among youth and young adults around the world finds wide variation in attitudes and beliefs that may be linked to historic, cultural, and economic differences. The research brief found there is a clear imprint of religion on beliefs in countries with a history of an influential dominant religion, such as Catholicism or Islam, so that young adults from these countries score relatively high on questions of spirituality and religiosity. Second, as countries develop economically, there tends to be less emphasis on traditional religious values. Third, spirituality does not go hand-in-hand with religiosity. Many young people who consider themselves to be "spiritual" do not participate in traditional "religious" practices.
(Source: Child Trends, December 2010, www.childtrends.org)
Positive Youth Development So Far - Peter Benson, Peter Scales, Stephen Hamilton, and Arturo Sesma Jr.
Positive Youth Development first emerged as an approach among practitioners working with young people when they saw the benefits of using strengths-based models with children and adolescents. This issue of the Search Institute's: Insights & Evidence reports on seven hypothesis, arising from the research on positive youth development.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry - John Roberto
This article provides an overview of the major findings from "The Study of Exemplary Congregations in Youth Ministry" and published in the book, The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry. The article presents the characteristics of committed Christian youth and the 44 Faith Assets found in the congregation, youth ministry, families, and leaders that promote a vibrant faith life in young people.
(Source: Lifelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
Teen Voice Report: The Untapped Strength of 15 Year-Olds - Search Institute
What happens at age 15 has a lot to say about teens’ success in school and beyond. Based on a national study of 1,817 fifteen-year-olds, Teen Voice 2009: The Untapped Strengths of 15-Year-Olds offers a unique, positive look into the lives of today’s teens. It explores three interlocking concepts: “sparks,” “teen voice,” and “relationships and opportunities.” When these strengths work together, they have tremendous potential to set or keep 15-year-olds on a positive course in the midst of this critical time in life.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
The Way of Jesus: Adolescent Development as Christological Process - Nancy Going
Nancy Going reports on research she conducted with young people to explore and test out the notion that persons in any phase of life are actually engaged in experiencing and exploring discrete aspects of the nature of God. In order to see the validity of a theological framework in action in the adolescent life phase, one would have to listen to young people who are committed Christians. She explores the question: Will adolescents of committed faith point to the theological emphases of adolescent development, and could the church actually use theology—specific theological themes reflecting various aspects of the nature of God - to explore the content of development?
(Source: Lifelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
Understanding the Excited Imaginations and Existential Struggles of Early Adolescent Males and the Ministry Implications for the Church - Paul G. Hill
This article explores the imaginations and struggles of early adolescent males for the purpose of providing a research foundation for ministry strategies to and with this age cohort. The method used to access the excited imaginations and existential struggles of early adolescent males is to report and compare two ethnographic studies, the Early Adolescent Male Study and the Lutheran Men in Mission Male Spirituality Study. One of the important conclusions of the research is that ministry with early adolescent males calls for cross-generational relationships with adult males who are authentic, available, affirming, action and achievement-oriented.
With Their Own Voices: A Global Exploration of How Today’s Young People Experience and Think About Spiritual Development - Search Institute
From 2006 through 2008, the research team at Search Institute’s Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence—together with partners in many parts of the world—listened to perspectives on spiritual development from young people, ages 12-25, in 17 countries. This study offers one of the first snapshots of spiritual development across multiple countries and contexts, including both developed and developing nations. With Their Own Voices provides descriptive data from surveys, focus groups, and interviews as a way of listening to young people’s own perspectives and experiences.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
Teen Voice 2010 - Search Institute
Search Institute is again working with Best Buy Children’s Foundation to find out what teens need and what our country offers them. The study looks at three points: 1) teens’ sparks, or their deepest passions and interests; 2) teens’ voice, or their confidence, skills, and opportunities to influence things that matter to them; and 3) the relationships teens need to support their growth. Too many teens are growing up without the supports and opportunities they need. These are clear messages in Teen Voice 2010, which details the findings of a new national study of 1,860 15-year-olds in three cities across the United States.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
Teenager's Top Priorities - Rick Lawrence
(YouthMinistry.com, 3/9/2010)
Teenager's Top Needs - Rick Lawrence
(YouthMinistry.com 4/18/2010)
The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry Study
This new book presents the major findings from "The Study of Exemplary Congregations in Youth Ministry" including the characteristics of committed Christian youth and the 44 Faith Assets found in the congregation, youth ministry, families, and leaders that promote a vibrant faith life in young people.
The State of Youth Ministry 2009 Report (Group Publishing) - Part 1
The State of Youth Ministry 2009 Report (Group Publishing) - Part 2
(Group Magazine, March-April 2009)
Search Institute has developed a list of 15 "thriving indicators," or constructive behaviors, postures, and commitments that societies value and need in youth. These indicators serve as a way of evaluating and analyzing program success based on positive outcomes, instead of negative ones; in other words, they allow us to talk about what's right with kids, instead of what's "wrong" with them.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
- For more information go to: www.at15.com/about_at_15/teen_voice_2010.
Almost Christian - An Interview with Kenda Creasy Dean
The interview with the author of Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers Is Telling the American Church explores Dean's response to the National Study on Youth and Religion (NSYR). Dean uses the study's findings to deliver a challenging wake-up call to the mainline church, which she believes is passing off a mutant form of Christianity to its young people. In the interview Kenda talks about the study's findings on teen faith, the "watered-down version of Christianity" prevalent in mainline churches, why and how the church must rediscover its sense of mission and faith language, and ultimately where hope lies for the future of the mainline church and young people longing for a faith worth living - and dying - for.
- For more about her book go to her website: http://kendadean.com.
- For a second interview with Kenda Creasy Dean by David Crumm of ReadtheSpirit.com click here.
The Demographics of Spirituality and Religiosity among Youth: International & U.S. Patterns - Laura Lippman and Hugh McIntosh
This new Child Trends research brief tracing religiosity and spirituality among youth and young adults around the world finds wide variation in attitudes and beliefs that may be linked to historic, cultural, and economic differences. The research brief found there is a clear imprint of religion on beliefs in countries with a history of an influential dominant religion, such as Catholicism or Islam, so that young adults from these countries score relatively high on questions of spirituality and religiosity. Second, as countries develop economically, there tends to be less emphasis on traditional religious values. Third, spirituality does not go hand-in-hand with religiosity. Many young people who consider themselves to be "spiritual" do not participate in traditional "religious" practices.
(Source: Child Trends, December 2010, www.childtrends.org)
Positive Youth Development So Far - Peter Benson, Peter Scales, Stephen Hamilton, and Arturo Sesma Jr.
Positive Youth Development first emerged as an approach among practitioners working with young people when they saw the benefits of using strengths-based models with children and adolescents. This issue of the Search Institute's: Insights & Evidence reports on seven hypothesis, arising from the research on positive youth development.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry - John Roberto
This article provides an overview of the major findings from "The Study of Exemplary Congregations in Youth Ministry" and published in the book, The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry. The article presents the characteristics of committed Christian youth and the 44 Faith Assets found in the congregation, youth ministry, families, and leaders that promote a vibrant faith life in young people.
(Source: Lifelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
Teen Voice Report: The Untapped Strength of 15 Year-Olds - Search Institute
What happens at age 15 has a lot to say about teens’ success in school and beyond. Based on a national study of 1,817 fifteen-year-olds, Teen Voice 2009: The Untapped Strengths of 15-Year-Olds offers a unique, positive look into the lives of today’s teens. It explores three interlocking concepts: “sparks,” “teen voice,” and “relationships and opportunities.” When these strengths work together, they have tremendous potential to set or keep 15-year-olds on a positive course in the midst of this critical time in life.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
The Way of Jesus: Adolescent Development as Christological Process - Nancy Going
Nancy Going reports on research she conducted with young people to explore and test out the notion that persons in any phase of life are actually engaged in experiencing and exploring discrete aspects of the nature of God. In order to see the validity of a theological framework in action in the adolescent life phase, one would have to listen to young people who are committed Christians. She explores the question: Will adolescents of committed faith point to the theological emphases of adolescent development, and could the church actually use theology—specific theological themes reflecting various aspects of the nature of God - to explore the content of development?
(Source: Lifelong Faith Journal, www.LifelongFaith.com)
Understanding the Excited Imaginations and Existential Struggles of Early Adolescent Males and the Ministry Implications for the Church - Paul G. Hill
This article explores the imaginations and struggles of early adolescent males for the purpose of providing a research foundation for ministry strategies to and with this age cohort. The method used to access the excited imaginations and existential struggles of early adolescent males is to report and compare two ethnographic studies, the Early Adolescent Male Study and the Lutheran Men in Mission Male Spirituality Study. One of the important conclusions of the research is that ministry with early adolescent males calls for cross-generational relationships with adult males who are authentic, available, affirming, action and achievement-oriented.
With Their Own Voices: A Global Exploration of How Today’s Young People Experience and Think About Spiritual Development - Search Institute
From 2006 through 2008, the research team at Search Institute’s Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence—together with partners in many parts of the world—listened to perspectives on spiritual development from young people, ages 12-25, in 17 countries. This study offers one of the first snapshots of spiritual development across multiple countries and contexts, including both developed and developing nations. With Their Own Voices provides descriptive data from surveys, focus groups, and interviews as a way of listening to young people’s own perspectives and experiences.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
Teen Voice 2010 - Search Institute
Search Institute is again working with Best Buy Children’s Foundation to find out what teens need and what our country offers them. The study looks at three points: 1) teens’ sparks, or their deepest passions and interests; 2) teens’ voice, or their confidence, skills, and opportunities to influence things that matter to them; and 3) the relationships teens need to support their growth. Too many teens are growing up without the supports and opportunities they need. These are clear messages in Teen Voice 2010, which details the findings of a new national study of 1,860 15-year-olds in three cities across the United States.
(Source: Search Institute, www.search-institute.org)
Teenager's Top Priorities - Rick Lawrence
(YouthMinistry.com, 3/9/2010)
Teenager's Top Needs - Rick Lawrence
(YouthMinistry.com 4/18/2010)
The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry Study
This new book presents the major findings from "The Study of Exemplary Congregations in Youth Ministry" including the characteristics of committed Christian youth and the 44 Faith Assets found in the congregation, youth ministry, families, and leaders that promote a vibrant faith life in young people.
- For an overview of the study's findings read the article: The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry by John Roberto.
- For more information about the study go to: www.exemplarym.com.
The State of Youth Ministry 2009 Report (Group Publishing) - Part 1
The State of Youth Ministry 2009 Report (Group Publishing) - Part 2
(Group Magazine, March-April 2009)
