OVERVIEW

A great deal is being said about high-risk youth. Only a few studies have come from a specifically faith-based perspective.

DESIGN

Boys Town conducted a 2 1/2 year study (1988-1990) surveying more than 822 high-risk youth who had not been in any of their previous religious-education programs. The ethnic demographics of study participants follows: 55% Caucasian, 45% African-American, 3% Native American, and 3% Hispanic (the final two groups comprise an insufficient number for a scientific sample). The questions were designed to gather data about self-esteem, interests, worries, moral values, one’s relationship with God, religious beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

"At-risk youth" are defined as young people about whom two or more of the following are true:

• Dropped out of school.
• Live in dysfunctional families.
• Are involved in substance abuse.
• Are sexually active.
• Lack positive relationships with significant adults.
• Break the law.

FINDINGS

Self-Esteem. The level of self-esteem is very high among peers of special youth culture and when a survival coping mechanism highly developed. Also, African-American youth reported higher self-esteem than did Caucasian youth, and girls reported lower self-esteem than boys. Experience with God. Participants related to God mostly during troubled times. They also shared time with God when alone and quiet, in church, or with family. Girls more interested in God than boys. Only 10% reported no experience with God. Image of God. Eighty percent felt loved unconditionally; still, few felt that their religious faith helped them in times of trouble. Faith. Faith is privatized and relational having little to do with behavior, interpersonal relations, or world at large. Many teens who professed faith in God are not morally opposed to X-rated materials or pre-marital intercourse. Religious influence. Religion positively influences suicidal thoughts and substance abuse. Depression is more likely among youth with low self-esteem who feel that no one understands them, have little sense that God loves them, feel that their lives have no purpose, worry about feeling sad all the time, and are lonely.

IMPLICATIONS

1. With budget cuts in economically strained times, churches and religious organizations are needed to help such young people.
2. Obviously, we should do everything possible to prevent young people from falling into high risk. The most effective prevention is systemic: strengthening the family and other services that socialize our young. Giving individual attention to young people is key to preventing high risk behavior.
3. Churches and religious organizations must develop skills and resources necessary to serve at-risk youth.

Dean Borgman cCYS