Children in the UK are unhappier than they have ever been according to recent research. The main causes of unhappiness are low self-esteem, body image and family conflict. Research by the Children's Society has shown that 7% of children aged between 10 and 15 in England - around 300,000 - are "significantly" unhappy.
The survey, carried out by Ipsos Mori between April and July 2008, asked children to score certain aspects of their lives on a happiness scale between 1 and 10. Most children questioned were actually happy, scoring (on average) above 5. However many children between 10 and 15 scored below the halfway mark.
Children who scored on average nearly 9 out of 10 - stated home, friends and family as the cause of their happiness. The highest levels of unhappiness were recorded in areas of appearance and confidence, with 17.5% saying they were unhappy with their looks, and 16% unhappy with their confidence. Almost twice as many girls were unhappy with their appearance as boys.
So, in summary, what does this research show us?
Children with settled home lives where the parents get along are generally happy.
Children with reliable friends are happy.
Adolescents are prone to unhappiness.
Some teenagers, especially girls, are unhappy with the way they look and lack confidence.
Did we really need expensive research to tell us what common sense has known for generations?
The unpredictable and sometimes unfounded unhappiness of adolescence provides the Army with a tremendous opportunity for evangelism. Let's preach the gospel to our teens – let's tell them that happiness and self worth are not dependant on how we look or how talented we are but that 'in the family of Jesus' everyone has an equal place.
The trouble is that if we told them that it wouldn't tally with what they see.
As I look around the Salvation Army and focus on our young people, I see that teenagers thrive or perish not by the rules of the gospel but all too often by 'the standards of this world'.
Talented, handsome, well-connected, athletic and confident children get the front seats at church just as they do at school. It takes a very special kind of Youth Worker to promote the awkward adolescent above the talented teen.
On a personal level, I still bear the emotional scars of growing up in an Army where people were defined by ability and appearance rather than by the desires and hopes wrapped up in their hearts.
As we seek the lost among the legions who live on the very edge of society let's make sure that we don't neglect the lost who live in our midst. Maybe they can't pass a football accurately, play an instrument, sing in tune, carry a part or find anyone to go on a date with but they are still a child of God. In fact if they qualify as 'the least among us' then God considers them to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
"Go ye into the highways and byways and seek out the geek, weed, nerd and bore and compel them to come in."
Grace and peace, A
1 comment:
Good Challenge Andrew. Awesome post.
Post a Comment