Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is At-Risk Behavior?Tracking At-Risk BehaviorsSexual BehaviorsSubstance UseViolenceMental HealthEmerging ConcernsHow Parents Can Help

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What Is At-Risk Behavior?

Tracking At-Risk Behaviors

Sexual Behaviors

Substance Use

Violence

Mental Health

Emerging Concerns

How Parents Can Help

Close

At-risk behavior is anything that puts youth at risk for future negative consequences, like poor health, injury or death. And while risky adolescent behavior isn’t a new concept (most adults can likely recall at least a few poor choices they made as a teen), the type of risks teens are taking are shifting.

Social media, school violence, opioid misuse, and poor mental health are a few examples of the kinds of challenges today’s teens are facing.

One reason risky behavior is so common during adolescence is that the teen brain isn’t yet fully developed. Consequently, teens struggle to think about long-term consequences. Research also suggests that teens tend to perceive the benefits of the behavior more than the risks.

In addition, they experience the “not me” phenomenon. They never imagine that injury, pregnancy, or accidents could happen to them.

At a GlanceThe teen years are a time of growth, but young people are also working to forge identities and deal with social challenges. It isn’t uncommon for people this age to engage in at-risk behavior. Risky sexual behaviors, violence, and drug use are common concerns, but more recent challenges (like social media use) also present a growing concern. Being aware of some of the most common challenges that young people deal with can help set the stage for ongoing conversations that can ensure kids feel supported and have somewhere to turn if they need help.

At a Glance

The teen years are a time of growth, but young people are also working to forge identities and deal with social challenges. It isn’t uncommon for people this age to engage in at-risk behavior. Risky sexual behaviors, violence, and drug use are common concerns, but more recent challenges (like social media use) also present a growing concern. Being aware of some of the most common challenges that young people deal with can help set the stage for ongoing conversations that can ensure kids feel supported and have somewhere to turn if they need help.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that the following can be categorized as at-risk behaviors:

The CDC tracks certain youth-at-risk behaviors that it has deemed important and observable in its Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). A report on different behavior categories is created every two years.

Categories of At-Risk BehaviorIn the 2021 to 2023 report, the CDC focused on 10 year trends in:Sexual behaviorSubstance useExperiences of violenceMental healthSuicidal thoughts and behaviorsOther important issues, including social media use

Categories of At-Risk Behavior

In the 2021 to 2023 report, the CDC focused on 10 year trends in:Sexual behaviorSubstance useExperiences of violenceMental healthSuicidal thoughts and behaviorsOther important issues, including social media use

In the 2021 to 2023 report, the CDC focused on 10 year trends in:

Past reports have also focused on other issues, including unintentional injuries, tobacco use, unhealthy dietary behaviors, and physical inactivity.

At-Risk Sexual Behaviors

The 2023 YRBSS report showed these statistics with regard to sexual behavior:

The report found that boys were more likely than girls to have four or more sexual partners during their lifetime.LGBTQ+high school students were less likely thancisgenderand heterosexual students to have used condoms the last time they had sex.

Reasons That Some Teens Turn Violent

At-Risk Substance Use

The CDC’s report found that in 2023:

The report also found that female LGBTQ+ youth were the most likely to engage in substance use behaviors.

At-Risk for Experiencing Violence

The CDC also reports that there has been a noted increase in high school-age students experiencing violence. According to the 2023 report:

The report also found that female and LGBTQ+ students were the most likely to experience violence. More than 1 in 10 female students reported that they had been forced to have sex. Almost 2 in 10 LGBTQ+ students missed school due to safety concerns.

How to Identify and Prevent School Violence

At-Risk Mental Health and Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors

The CDC report found that all indicators of mental health andsuicidal thoughtsand behaviors became worse over the 10-year period between 2013 and 2023. According to the report:

The report found that female and LGBTQ+ students were more likely than others to experience persistent feelings of sadness and helplessness, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

The CDC report also looked at emerging areas of concern. Areas highlighted in the report include:

Social Media Is Literally Harming Our Youth—How Can We Help?

How Parents Can Use the Results

Parents need to know the most common behaviors teens are engaging in that could lead to negative consequences. You can use the survey results to better understand the types of pressure your teen may face or the behaviors your teen might be tempted to engage in.

You can also use the survey to start a conversation with your teen. Say something like, “I was reading a survey the other day that said 17% of teens us marijuana. Do any of your friends smoke?”

It’s important to hold ongoing conversations with your teen about risky behavior. Listen to your teen’s concerns and provide education whenever possible.

Therapy for Teens

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maslowsky J, Owotomo O, Huntley ED, Keating D.Adolescent risk behavior: differentiating reasoned and reactive risk-taking.J Youth Adolesc. 2019;48(2):243-255. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-0978-3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Teens: Risk behaviors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Data Summary and Trends Report: 2013-2023.Additional Reading"Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2015." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016)

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Maslowsky J, Owotomo O, Huntley ED, Keating D.Adolescent risk behavior: differentiating reasoned and reactive risk-taking.J Youth Adolesc. 2019;48(2):243-255. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-0978-3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Teens: Risk behaviors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Data Summary and Trends Report: 2013-2023.Additional Reading"Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2015." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016)

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Maslowsky J, Owotomo O, Huntley ED, Keating D.Adolescent risk behavior: differentiating reasoned and reactive risk-taking.J Youth Adolesc. 2019;48(2):243-255. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-0978-3Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Teens: Risk behaviors.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Data Summary and Trends Report: 2013-2023.

Maslowsky J, Owotomo O, Huntley ED, Keating D.Adolescent risk behavior: differentiating reasoned and reactive risk-taking.J Youth Adolesc. 2019;48(2):243-255. doi:10.1007/s10964-018-0978-3

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Teens: Risk behaviors.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.YRBS Data Summary and Trends Report.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Youth Risk Behavior Survey: Data Summary and Trends Report: 2013-2023.

“Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2015.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016)

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