Today CDC released, Vital Signs: Prevalence of Multiple Forms of Violence and
Increased Health Risk Behaviors and Conditions Among Youths —
United States, 2019. The latest CDC Vital Signs report examines the types of
violence experienced by teens age 14 to 18 years old and highlights how
experiences of violence are associated with health conditions and risky behaviors.
Far too commonly, teens 14 to 18 years old experience violence, often more than
one type, such as physical fighting, sexual violence, dating violence, and bullying.
Data from 2019 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) provide key insights
into the violence experiences of teens aged 14 to 18:
- As teens experience more violence, their involvement in risky behaviors
increases. Teens’ engagement in risk behaviors was up to 7 times higher
among those with two types of violence and up to 21 times higher among
those experiencing three or more types of violence than teens with no
violence experiences. - About half (44.3%) of teens experienced at least one type of violence and
1 in 7 (15.6%) of teens experienced at least two types of violence in the
12 months before the survey. - Female teens are more likely than males to experience three or more types
of violence, as are sexual minority teens compared to heterosexual peers.
Preventing violence is key to promoting teen and adult health. Violence can affect
teens’ health and increase the chance of developing cancer, heart disease, or other
health problems in adulthood. Collaboration among multiple sectors can ensure the
effective implementation of strategies to help youth and communities be safe and
thrive.
