MTV Networks International Conducts Wellbeing Study

MTV Networks International is concerned about the Wellbeing of kids and young people.

The programmer conducted a global study featuring its Wellbeing Index.

Among highlights of MTVNI’s findings after polling young people in Argentina, Brazil, China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States:

• India was the country where young people had the greatest perceived sense of wellbeing, followed in order by Sweden, the United States, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Indonesia, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil. China was not included in this question.

• Kids in developing countries were more positive about their future than those in developed nations.

• Only 43% of 16- to 34-year-olds said they were happy with the way things were. Those aged 8-15 were happier, but not much more so: 57% on average.

• More than one-half of 16- to 34-year-old Indonesians, Brazilians and Indians said they were religious, versus one in four in the United States and one in 10 in Sweden and Germany.

• More than one-half of 8- to 15-year-olds worry about getting a job, while only 34% were concerned about fitting in at school and only 25% worried about looking cool.

• Terrorism came in eighth in the list of fears for 16- to 34-year-olds and 10th for 8- to 15-year-olds, behind parents dying, cancer, AIDS and robbery.

• Kids from developing nations appear to be more patriotic.

“The world is changing at unprecedented speed, and our research revealed unique and surprising youth cultural differences between developing and developed countries,” MTVNI president Bill Roedy said in a prepared statement. “This survey underscores our commitment to understanding the diversity of kids and young people throughout the world.”