More U.S. teens are engaging in low-risk behaviors

A new study shows changes in mental and behavioral health among U.S. teenagers over the past 22 years. The research indicates that more teens are now in low-risk categories, but some mental health issues have increased. Researchers analyzed data from high school students collected through the Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 1999 to 2021. They found that the percentage of teens with low-risk behaviors grew significantly, from about 40% in 1999 to nearly 60% in 2021. While behavior-related risks, such as carrying a weapon and fighting, decreased, mental health issues like sadness and suicidal thoughts increased. The study identified five risk profiles among adolescents: low everything, high sex, high everything, high substance use, and high internalizing. The low everything group saw substantial growth, while the high sex, high everything, and high substance use groups saw declines, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Younger teens were more likely to belong to the low-risk categories, while older teens showed higher numbers in some higher-risk groups. About 66% of those in the high internalizing group were women, whereas men were more common in the high everything and high substance use categories. The research suggests that over the last two decades, fewer adolescents are involved in high-risk behaviors, which may have implications for individual and societal health. However, the study does have limitations, including not covering all mental health disorders and focusing only on school-age teens. The study, conducted by Rebekah Levine Coley at Boston College, was published on March 18 in the journal Pediatrics. The authors reported no conflicts of interest.