One of this study’s biggest surprises is what leads to flourishing in a young person’s life.
We discovered a construct we are calling self-concept (someone’s identity and agency). Identity is strongly related to a person’s sense of being worthy of being loved, while agency refers to the impact they believe they can make. Of course, we believe all people are worthy of being loved because they are made in the image of God, and that everyone has value to add to this world. That is part of the message of love and hope we share about Jesus.
A high or low self-concept directly impacts flourishing. A young person’s self-concept is also strongly correlated with their sense of belonging and their close relationships. This means that if one of those variables increases, the other two will likely also increase, which will lead to an increase in flourishing.
Faith also is reciprocally related to the triangle of self-concept, belonging, and close relationships. Faith acts as a framing story for how we live our lives, offering meaning and understanding. As self-concept, belonging, and close relationships increase, so does faith. The reverse is also true. If any of the constructs of self-concept, belonging, or close relationships decreases, faith also decreases. Likewise, an increase in faith will “grow” the triangle of self-concept, belonging, and close relationships, leading to a rise in flourishing.
Everyone has a framing story, and if it doesn’t support a positive self-concept, belonging, and close relationships, it won’t lead to flourishing. We found that those without a faith-framing story for their lives, those who identified as atheists, agnostics, and “nones,” experienced lower flourishing scores.
This dynamic model reminds us that the gospel is not a set of truth claims, but a lived reality. The gospel is incarnated again and again in our staff and volunteers as they create spaces of belonging where adolescents can be themselves, build close relationships, reinforce that we are made in God’s image, we are worthy of love, and we invite adolescents to make a difference in the world — all within the framing story of Jesus.
Ways to Help: If you take away only one thing from this study, please let it be this: Tell the teen in your life they’re worthy of love. Not just your love, but God’s love, and their friends’ love, and romantic love, and so much more. And they don’t need to do anything to deserve it. They’re innately and uniquely important, no matter who they are. They’re needed in this world.