A poll conducted in April by the Associated Press and mtv indicates that what makes teens happy is not what some might expect. Although money, sex, music and other factors were examined by the study, the top answer teens gave to the open-ended question “What makes you happy?” was spending time with family.

The second-most frequent reply was spending time with friends, and spending time with a boyfriend or girlfriend came in third.

Teens who were in wealthier families were generally happier than those who were poorer, but very few respondents listed money as what made them happy.

For 13- to 17-year-olds, being sexually active actually made them less happy. Sexually active 18- to 24-year-olds were happier “in the moment, but not in general,” according to the Associated Press report on the study.

According to the same report, a majority of young people said school made them happy and that they thought that eventually marrying and having children of their own would make them happy.

Nearly three in four teens said their relationship with their parents made them happy, and when asked who were their heroes, half responded with Dad or Mom.

While these results might seem revelatory to some, the Trumpet has consistently maintained that family life is the most vital part of a young person’s life. Although millions of teens are turning to ever-worsening vices—drugs, alcohol, illicit sex, degrading entertainment—these diversions are actually robbing them of happiness. This study shows there is an open door: Young people know deep down that meaningful, dependable happiness comes from family.

To learn more about the all-important institution of family and its transcendent purpose, read “Taking Time to Save Our Teens,” from the July issue of the Philadelphia Trumpet.