Peter Levine, director of the Center, said that 33 percent of people ages 16 to 19 years old were volunteers in 2005, but that rate has dropped to 28 percent in 2007, the year with the most recent figures. Levine said a drop in funding for some youth-related programs such as Americorps might account for the decrease in volunteerism.
"They're still volunteering at higher rates than their parents did," he said, "but there has been a loss of momentum." The study did not consider how many teens volunteer as a requirement for a class or graduation.
The decline in teen volunteerism could signal an impending uptick in problematic behavior. According to a report from the Corporation for National and Community service, young people who engage in positive activities such as volunteering are less likely to have problems in school or engage in risky behaviors such as teen drug use, alcohol abuse, crime, and sexual promiscuity.
Labels: teen_culture, volunteers
Posted By: Aspen/CRC