Parent News Jan-Feb 2000. Etzioni provides examples of youth with strong religious convictions and those deeply committed to sports or involved in community service, noting that their activities are illustrations of positive involvement for youth. The study has found several interesting trends related to volunteering and youth. More importantly, teens who volunteer said the experience helped them to learn how to respect others, learn how to be helpful and kind, understand people who are different from themselves, and become more patient and understand the qualities of good citizenship.
Fathers also play a prominent role in encouraging their child's participation.
It appears that volunteering is cultivated in early childhood and during early teenage years. Many adolescent girls, Pipher observes, are self-absorbed, a characteristic that Pipher describes as a developmental stage rather than a character flaw. Pipher also indicates that volunteer work and social action can also be a cure for cynicism, depression, and narcissism. She believes these activities can make communities better and give people a sense of meaning and purpose. Their year-long experience working with homeless people was the best thing that happened to her daughter during an otherwise difficult school year.