What Are Teenagers Interested In?

Material Possessions

• Working and waiting for items they want is an anomaly for many of today̵7;s teenagers; instant gratification is the norm in our society. They usually want the latest clothes and gadgets but do not want to work to get them, expecting parents to provide them. Professor Deborah Roedder John, at the University of Minnesota, analyzed materialism in teens and found a correlation between materialism and self-esteem, with materialism mirroring their feelings of self- worth. She noted that as teens become more confident, materialism declines. Conversely, when confidence is low, they compensate by acquiring material possessions.

Boundaries

• Teens want to know that they are loved and cared for by family and friends. While they might object to the boundaries parents set, they really do want them. It shows parents love them and care about their health and safety. Important aspects of setting boundaries are to know where your teens are and with whom they are associating. Expect them to follow rules and check often to be certain they are. Teenagers want you to be a parent, not their best friend; they need to hear ̶0;no̶1; when it is appropriate.

Family

• While teens want to be autonomous, they actually seek family connections. They want someone to care whether they come home at night; at the same time, they resent the imposed curfew. Loving and being loved in return are deep human needs that cross all age groups. Teens often say they do not want parents to interfere, but the emotional support has a positive effect and quenches the need for material possessions.

Friends

• Friendship is very important to teens. They want to belong to a group and do not want to feel isolated from peers. Having friends as a support system creates a sense of well-being and elevates their own psychological assessment. They will not feel the need to respond to pressure from peers to buy the latest fashions or hottest device. When they feel better about themselves, it reduces the need for acceptance through the acquisition of ̶0;things.̶1;