Risky Behaviors in the Teenage Years: Trends from the CDC's Annual Study
Navigating the middle and high school years as a parent can be challenging, but also immensely rewarding. As a parent of teenager, you probably already know this.
As the Director of Student Ministry, one of my roles is to provide useful information for parents of teenagers in 2023. There is a perception that middle and high school mostly involves destructive behavior. To gain helpful insights, I looked to the CDC's annual study on five major risk behaviors of high school students: sexual behavior, substance abuse, violence, mental health, and new national data trends.
In this blog, I aim to some extract key takeaways from three of those five areas, and provide actionable steps or conversation points to help parents disciple their kids better.
Sexual Behavior
It should come as no shock to parents that the teenage years of a kid’s life can be formative in regards to their sexuality. In 2023 especially there is something of a new sexual revolution that is fairly widespread in middle schools and high schools. Students at this age are typically looking to answer the question; where do I fit? One of the major ways they are exploring their identity is by being open about their sexuality.
Interestingly enough though, a trend that continues is that while teenagers are okay with discussing and exploring their sexuality, they are actually acting on those sexual identities less. The CDC study revealed several interesting findings:
Among high school students:
Those who had ever had sex decreased from 47% in 2011 to 30% in 2021.
Those who were currently sexually active decreased from 34% in 2011 to 21% in 2021.
Those who had 4+ sexual partners decreased from 15% in 2011 to 6% in 2021.
By these metrics is pretty clear that teenagers are engaging in sexual activity less than teenagers 10 years ago. Those trends have been consistent throughout the past 10 years and it seems that a large reason for this is that sexual activity isn’t really a priority for Gen Z. Students in this age group are much more focused on money and success which ends up leaving less time to pursue sexual relationships.
Parent Action: If your student is being open about their sexuality do not shame them or get angry. Instead understand that identity formation is a key to the teenage years. Use this as an opportunity to focus on how God’s ideal for sex is better than what the world has to offer.
Substance Abuse
Parents often times view the teenage years in the way that they viewed their own teenage years. The phrase “sex, drugs, and rock n roll” would appear to be a fair way of discussing this phase of life but as we saw in regards to sexual behavior, Gen Z actually doesn’t appear to be as rebellious in some areas as we might assume. The CDC study had some key finding in regards to substance abuse that are important to note.
Among high school students:
The who currently drink alcohol decreased from 39% in 2011 to 23% in 2021.
Those who currently smoke weed decreased from 23% in 2011 to 16% in 2021.
Those who vaped decreased by 15% since 2019 alone!
Many of the students that I talk with are actually using these substances less, and are instead looking for other ways to cope with the stresses of the teenage years. The trends in this area are highly encouraging because it would indicate that teenagers are experimenting with illegal substances less often and instead are trying to manage the difficulties in life in a more holistic way.
Parent Action: Have an ongoing and open conversation about the effects of substance abuse with your kid. Help them find healthier ways (deep breathing, exercise, therapy, etc) to cope with the trials of their teenage years.
Mental Health
This area of the study is particularly troubling. Trends in other areas are generally positive, but this one is not. Before discussing the takeaways, it's important to note that mental health in Gen Z is a serious concern, and this study further highlights the need for close monitoring.
Among high school students:
Those who experience persistent hopelessness increased to 42%.
Those who have seriously considered suicide increased to 22%.
Those who have attempted suicide increased to 10%.
Based on my interactions with students, I believe that these trends are accurate. Mental health is a constant topic of conversations that I have with students. Teenagers are highly anxious, depressed, and stressed. It is crucial to remember that this generation of teenagers has lived through economic issues, wars, a global pandemic, and massive amounts of political turmoil. They are primed for mental health struggles throughout their life.
Parent Action: Check in frequently on the mental well being of your kid. Don’t force a conversation but if you notice them acting differently, be aware that this may be caused by their mental health.
Conclusion
As parents, it is your role to love your kids and give them the tools necessary to navigate this world as God designed them to. One of the best tools we can give our kids is our time and attention. Teens need to know that we are here to listen and support them, even though it can be hard to understand their struggles. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” We must be diligent in training our kids in God’s ways and in teaching them healthy habits for their mental, physical, and spiritual well being.
Additional Action Steps:
Spend time with your child and show them love through your words and actions.
Have ongoing conversations about the risks of sexual activities, substance abuse, and the effects of mental health struggles.
Pray for your kid and their friends daily!
