NEW YORK, Nov. 12, 2007

What Makes Teens Happy?

Recent Survey Finds Being With Family And Friends Tops List Of What Teens Find Meaningful

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(CBS)  Teenagers may be on a hormonal roller coaster, but they know what makes them happy.

A recent seven-month survey of thousands of 12- to 24-year-olds came up with two potentially eyebrow-raising keys: family and friends. Even so-called helicopter parents, who are involved in almost every aspect of their kids' lives, made the grade.

The survey, by research firm Social Technologies, was commissioned by MTV and The Associated Press.

"We found that, while they did find their parents annoying at times, that overall they appreciated the support and saw their parents as partners and kind of a partnership relationship. That surprised us," Social Technologies' Andy Hines told The Early Show contributing correspondent Benno Schmidt.

Also important: technology.

Things such as money and being famous -- also perhaps surprisingly -- didn't rank as high.

For much more on the study, click here. To read Hines' blog entries about the study, click here. To see a Social Technologies presentation on the study, click here. To see summaries of the study, click here and here.

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