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| Population Profiles: Youth |
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Growing Up is Hard to Do |
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Do teenagers now face more obstacles than they did twenty or
thirty years ago? They do, according to the Census Bureau. "About half of
America's 16- and 17-year-olds live with at least one risk factor such as poverty, welfare
dependence, or the absence of one or both parents that makes them more likely to face
adversity later in life." Their assessment, based upon the March 1996 Current
Population Survey, (Census Brief: America's Children at Risk) demonstrates a correlation
between an increasing number of risk factors present and the increased likelihood of
adverse outcomes, such as the number of teenage mothers and the number of those not
in school and not working. |
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Have "adverse outcomes" increased since 1996?
Apparently in spite of the increase of risk factors, these adverse outcomes, as well as
other key indicators related to the health and well-being of adolescents, have shown some
improvement. During a 5-year period, Pregnancy (-14%), Birth (-13%) and Abortion (-16%)
rates all dropped. The number of 16-19 year olds "Not Working and Not in School"
dropped (-1.3%). Drug (-1%), Alocohol (-0.1%) and Cigarette (-3%) use have declined
slightly or remained stable. And, crime rates involving teenagers either as perpetrators
(-52%) or victims
(-46%) have declined significantly. |
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FAST FACT: During the decade of the nineties all 50
states (and
the District of Columbia) experienced a decline in the birth rate ranging from -12.3% to
-38.5%. |
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© COPYRIGHT 2008 PERCEPT GROUP, INC. |
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