HOW
to
TALK
to
TROUBLED TEENS
V I TA L S M A R T S R E S E A R C H
It may seem obvious: parents who talk candidly about tough issues with their teen are more
likely to raise a child who becomes a productive member of society. But according to our
research on how parents can play a greater role in influencing their teens choiceschoices
1 out of 3
parents are either unable or barely able to have a
crucial conversation with their teenager.
about drugs, friends, sex, internet safety, education, laziness, etc.
Our study of more than 300 people also revealed that 55 percent of kids are either unwilling
or barely willing to discuss problems. If parents are unable and kids are unwilling to hold these
crucial conversations, their chances of success drop significantlywhen compared with
the rest of the sample, kids who
dont have the necessary crucial
KEY RESULTS
conversations are only half as likely to
overcome challenges.
of kids are either unwilling
In addition to sabotaging their
or barely willing to discuss problems.
chances to overcome challenges,
the inability to hold these crucial
parents are either unable or
conversations affects four
barely
able
to
have
crucial conversations with
key areas:
their child.
1. O
verall Relationship: Parents
who are able to have crucial
of parents say holding crucial
conversations with their
conversations improved their relationship
children are more than twice
as likely to describe their
with their teen;
said it hurt the
relationship as very good or
relationship.
extremely good.
55%
30%
48%
17%
2. O
verall Happiness: Parents
who are able to hold difficult
conversations with their children are 27 percent more likely to describe their children as
moderately or very happy.
3. O
verall Health: Parents who are able to talk to their children about difficult subjects are
21 percent more likely to describe their children as moderately or very healthy.
4. Overall Productivity: Parents who are able to have crucial conversations with their
children are 57 percent more likely to describe their children as moderately or very
productive members of society.