Demographics: Health

For adolescent sexual health statistics, see Demographics: Sexual Health.

Access to Health Care

Of all children age 0-17, 10% (7.5 million) had no health insurance in 2009 [1]. In 2008-2009, 8% (354,800) of New York State children 18 and under were without health insurance [2]. Through private insurance, Medicaid, and Children's Health Insurance Program, adolescents have a high rate of coverage (88%). Forty percent of teens rely on public insurance coverage [3].

Most adolescents (92%) have a "usual source of care" such as a physician or HMO. However, many clinicians report feeling ill-equipped to help youth who are dealing with issues such as substance abuse or pregnancy. Assurance of confidentiality is especially important to teens, who may not give complete information to health care providers or follow up appropriately after a diagnosis unless they feel that their privacy is secure. School-based health centers and Title X family planning centers are important sources of care for adolescents [3].

Most adolescents age 10-17 visited a dentist in 2006 (83.5%); however, dental care drops as adolescents become young adults [4]. In 2010, 7% of all children age 2-17 did not receive needed dental care [5].

Dietary Behaviors

Of all children age 0-17, 23% (17.2 million) experienced food insecurity at times during 2009 [6]. In the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, more than one in five (22%) high school students reported eating fruits and vegetables five or more times a day [7]. Black students are more likely to eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables than are youth in other groups (27%).

A welcome downward trend has recently been seen in the number of high school students who tried to lose weight through vomiting or the use of laxatives, from 6% in 2003 to 4% in 2009 [8]. Of women in late adolescence and young adulthood, 10% have symptoms of eating disorders [9].

In 2007-2008, 18% of adolescents age 12 to 19 were overweight, up from 5% in 1976-1980. Black girls were at particularly high risk (28%) of being overweight [10]. In the U.S. in 2009, 12% of high school students were considered obese [3] (11% in New York State [11]).

Physical Activity and Sleep

Over one-third (37%) of high school students reported a high level of physical activity in 2009 (at least 60 minutes a day for five or more days in the week before the survey). There is a significant gender disparity: 28% of girls and 46% of boys reported this level of activity. A majority of youth (58%) play on at least one sports team [12]. Close to 82% of high school students reported being physically active some of the time during the week before the survey (nearly 89% of girls and 75% of boys) [13].

Only 31% of high school students reported having at least eight hours of sleep on a typical school night. Ninth grade students were more likely to have eight hours of sleep than seniors at 40% and 24% respectively [14].

Mental Health

While most adolescents experience good mental health, 20% of youth report mental health symptoms, according to a 2008 review of research. Depression, anxiety disorders, attention-deficit disorder, and substance abuse are the most common disorders experienced by youth [15]. A large, nationally representative study published in 2010 found that 50% of youth age 13-18 report having had mental health symptoms at some point in their lifetime, with a lifetime prevalence of 22% for symptoms that are classified as severe [16]. The same study found that anxiety disorders are experienced by 32% of this age group, behavior disorders by 19%, mood disorders by 14%, and substance use disorders by 11%. For more statistics, see Demographics: Substance Use.

During 2004, 65% of high school students described themselves as happy every day or almost every day [17]. In general, there is little research measuring adolescent life satisfaction [15].

In 2009, 26% of all high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row in the last year (an indicator of clinical depression). More girls than boys reported feeling sad or hopeless (34% and 19% respectively) [18].

The number of high school students who report serious thoughts of suicide dropped dramatically -- from 29% in 1991 to 14% in 2009; however, the prevalence of reported suicide attempts has been fairly consistent [19].

• Hispanic (8%) and black-NH (8%) students were more likely than white-NH (5%) students to have attempted suicide.
   
• Among high school students, girls (17%) seriously considered suicide more often than boys (11%). However, historically boys have completed suicide more often than girls.

Injury, Violence, and Mortality

Mortality

The adolescent death rate appears to be declining. Adolescent deaths are most often (close to 80% of the time) caused by injury [20]. Motor vehicle accidents (30%) are the leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults age 10-24 overall, followed by other unintentional injuries (16%), homicide (16%), and suicide (12%) [21].

Among adolescents and young adults age 10-24, males are far more likely than females to become homicide victims (86% vs. 14% in 2007) [22]. In this age group, gun violence was the cause of death in 84% of cases. Homicide is the leading cause of death for African Americans age 10-24.

Fighting

The number of youth who report having been in at least one physical fight in the past year decreased from 43% in 1991 to 32% in 2009 [23]. In New York State this figure is slightly lower: 30% of the youth reported having been in a physical fight [24].

Weapons

In 2009, 6% of high school students reported having carried a weapon on school property within the last 30 days [23]. The number is lower in New York State: 4.8% for the entire state, 5.2% for the state excluding New York City, and 3.8% for New York City (see CDC Youth Online interactive tables) [24].

Violent Crime

The juvenile arrest rate for violent crime peaked in 1994, then declined each year to its lowest level in 2004. After increasing briefly, the rate of juvenile arrest declined again between 2006-2008, and numbers remain dramatically lower than the 1994 peak [25]. In 2008, 9% of murder arrests involved a child under age 18 [26]. Juvenile robbery increased 2% between 2007-2008, but all other juvenile arrests for violent crimes decreased [25].

In 2009, 11% of female high school students and 5% of male students reported having been raped at some point in their lives [27]. In New York State, the figures are 8% for girls and 7% for boys [26].

Dating Violence

One out of every 10 high school students (9.8%) was a victim of dating violence in 2009, with 9% of girls reporting having been hit, slapped, or physically hurt by a romantic partner in the 12 months preceding the survey, and 10% of boys reporting the same [27].

Among teens (13-18) in relationships, 47% report having experienced controlling behaviors by a romantic partner [28].

Endnotes

[1]	Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (2011). America's children: Key national indicators of well-being, 2011: Health insurance coverage. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from childstats.gov/americaschildren/care1.asp
[2]	Kaiser Family Foundation. (n. d.). Statehealthfacts.org: New York: Facts at a glance. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from statehealthfacts.org/profileglance.jsp?rgn=34
[3]	Cullen, E. & Salganicoff, A. (2011, October). Adolescent health: Coverage and access to care. Women's issue brief. Retrieved November 15, 2011 from Kaiser Family Foundation website kff.org/womenshealth/8236.cfm
[4]	Mulye, T. P., Park, M. J., Nelson, C. D., Adams, S. H., Irwin Jr., C. E., & Brindis, C. D. (2009). Trends in adolescent and young adult health in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(1), 8-24. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2009.03.013
[5]	National Center for Health Statistics. (2011). Summary health statistics for the U.S. population: National health interview survey, 2010. Vital Health Statistics 10(250). Retrieved from cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_10/sr10_250.pdf (PDF: 714K)
[6]	Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (2011). America's children: Key national indicators of well-being, 2011: Food security. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from childstats.gov/americaschildren/eco3.asp
[7]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, June 4). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009 [electronic version]. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(SS-5), 24. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (PDF: 3.5M)
[8]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, June 4). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009 [electronic version]. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(SS-5), 30. October 31, 2011, from cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (PDF: 3.5M)
[9]	Kreipe, R. E. (2006, November). Eating disorders and adolescents. Research fACTs and Findings. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from actforyouth.net/resources/rf/rf_eatingdisorders_1106.pdf (PDF: 121K) actforyouth.net/resources/rf/rf_eatingdisorders_1106.cfm (accessible format)
[10]	Child Trends. (2010, May). Overweight children and youth. Retrieved October 3, 2011, from childtrendsdatabank.org/alphalist?q=node/70
[11]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n. d.). The obesity epidemic and New York students. Retrieved from cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/pdf/obesity/ny_obesity_combo.pdf (PDF: 82K)
[12]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, June 4). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009 [electronic version]. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(SS-5), 25-27. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (PDF: 3.5M)
[13]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Youth online: High school YRBS: United States 2009 results. [See "Physically active at least 60 minutes per day on less than 7 days."] Retrieved November 15, 2011, from apps.nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?SID=HS&LID=XX
[14]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, June 4). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009 [electronic version]. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(SS-5), 31. Retrieved November 15, 2011, from cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (PDF: 3.5M)
[15]	Knopf, D., Park, M.J., & Mulye, T. (2008). The Mental health of adolescents: A national profile, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from nahic.ucsf.edu/downloads/MentalHealthBrief.pdf (PDF: 594K)
[16]	Merikangas, K. R., He, J., Burstein, M., Swanson, S. A., Avenevoli, S., Cui, L., . . . Swendsen, J. (2010). Lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in U.S. adolescents: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey replication - Adolescent supplement (NCS-A). Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 49(10), 980-989. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2010.05.017
[17]	Albert, B., Lippmann, L., Franzetta, K., Ikramullah, E., Dombrowski, J., Shwalb, R., Ryan, S., & Terry-Humen, E. (2005). Freeze frame: A snapshot of America's teens (p. 21). Retrieved October 31, 2011, from National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy website teenpregnancy.org/works/pdf/FreezeFrame.pdf (PDF: 1.4M)
[18]	Child Trends. (2010, July). Adolescents who feel sad or hopeless. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from childtrendsdatabank.org/?q=node/126
[19]	Child Trends. (2010, July). Suicidal teens. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from childtrendsdatabank.org/?q=node/128
[20]	Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. (2011). America's children: Key national indicators of well-being, 2011: Adolescent injury and mortality. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from childstats.gov/americaschildren/phenviro8.asp
[21]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, June 4). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009 [electronic version]. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(SS-5), 2. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (PDF: 3.5M)
[22]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Youth violence: Facts at a glance 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/yv-datasheet-a.pdf (PDF: 128K)
[23]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Trends in the prevalence of behaviors that contribute to violence. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/pdf/us_violence_trend_yrbs.pdf (PDF: 85K)
[24]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n. d.). Youth online: High School YRBS: New York 2009 Results. Retrieved October 31, 2011, from apps.nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=NY
[25]	Puzzanchera, C. (2009, December). Juvenile arrests 2008. Juvenile Justice Bulletin. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/228479.pdf (PDF: 758K)
[26]	Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. (n. d.). Statistical briefing book: Juveniles as offenders. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03105.asp?qaDate=2008
[27]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n. d.). Youth online: High school YRBS: United States 2009 results. [See "Hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by their boyfriend or girlfriend."] Retrieved November 16, 2011, from apps.nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?SID=HS&LID=XX
[28]	New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. (2011). Respect love, love respect: Resources: Dating abuse fact sheet. Retrieved November 16, 2011, from respectlove.opdv.ny.gov/resources/factsheet.html