Group tracks societal trends and their long-term effects on teens

Published: 2003-10-22

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (CNS) -- Walt Mueller, founder and president of the nonprofit Center for Parent/Youth Understanding in Elizabethtown, Pa., has plenty to keep him busy these days. Mueller's nonprofit organization tracks societal trends and their long-term effects on teen behavior in such areas as video-game violence, smoking, sexual activity, substance abuse, music, advertising and religion. The organization publishes its findings in newsletters and bimonthly updates on its Web site, www.cpyu.org. The updates are full of statistics and news items and numerous links to additional articles and resources. Recent updates have contained information on last year's top-selling album, Eminem's "The Eminem Show"; a report on the increase in underage binge drinking; a Time magazine article about teen abstinence; and a study on the effects of exposure to violent video games. Michael Theisen, Rochester's diocesan director of youth ministry, frequently quotes the organization's findings in his own notes to diocesan youth ministers.

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