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Adults Can Help Prevent Teen Dating Violence and Other Sexual Violence

Published February 2023

CDC Report Finds Troubling Levels of Violence and Mental Health Issues Among Adolescents, Particularly Female Students and LGBQ+ Students

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) newly released Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2011-2021 shows that young people in the United States are facing a level of trauma and distress that requires action. Adolescents reported increasing mental health challenges, experiences of violence, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. As part of CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) monitors priority health behaviors and experiences among 9th through 12th grade students. The new 2021 data are the first national YRBS data collected since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The YRBS includes measures of experiences of violence, such as feeling unsafe at school, bullying, forced sex, and sexual violence by anyone. The data show that in 2021, female students, LGBQ+ students, and students who had any same-sex partners were more likely than their peers to experience violence. Among female students, 18% experienced sexual violence by anyone during the past year, and 14% had ever been forced to have sex. Among LGBQ+ students, 22% experienced sexual violence by anyone in the past year, and 20% had ever been forced to have sex.

The report finds that in 2021, 9% of high school students did not go to school because they felt unsafe either at school or on their way to or from school at least once during the past 30 days. Additionally, 10% of female students, 12% of Black students, 11% of Hispanic students, 14% of LGBQ+ students, and 18% of students who had any same-sex partners did not go to school because of safety concerns in the past 30 days. The report also finds that in 2021, female students, LGBQ+ students, and students who had any same-sex partners were more likely than their peers to experience poor mental health and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Nearly 60% of female students and nearly 70% of LGBQ+ students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

How Can You Help Young People Experiencing Violence and/or Poor Mental Health?

Data from CDC show that school environments can have a strong lifelong effect on areas where youth are struggling now, including mental health. School environments are influenced by how teachers manage classrooms, programs to support positive youth development, and policies and practices that support LGBTQ+ students. 

Here are resources for school staff and other adults to support healthy relationships and mental health in adolescence. 

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Healthy relationships are ones where adolescents can safely feel and express respect for themselves and others. These come from mutual trust, honesty, good communication, being understanding and calm during arguments, and consent. Unfortunately, teen dating violence is a serious problem in the United States. Teen dating violence is a type of intimate partner violence that occurs between two young people who are or were once in a relationship.

Family, friends, and others can help prevent teen dating violence by empowering teens to lead healthy lives and establish healthy relationships. Youth.gov has examples of teen dating violence prevention programs to stop teen dating violence before it begins. Parents can use OPA's tips for talking with teens about relationships to guide conversations about sexual activity, sexuality, and relationships. Parents and caregivers matter — most adolescents want to hear from their parents about these topics. 

Here are some additional resources to support youth and healthy relationships: 

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