Social issues are problems that affect large groups of people and can affect how well a society functions, Verywell Family reported. Teens can face social problems just like adults can. They may even be more susceptible to these challenges because their brains are still developing and their bodies are changing quickly. Social issues and what we might think of a “teenage problems” can affect emotional and physical health.
Depression
According to the National Instituted of Mental Health (NIMH), an estimated 4.1 million adolescents in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in 2020. That means 17% of American teenagers may experience depression before reaching adulthood. Data from NIMH also shows that depression is much more prevalent in female teens (25.2%) than male teens (9.2%) and among teens who reported two or more races (29.9%).
Spending too much time on electronic devices may be preventing young people from in-person activities with their peers, such as sports, which can help ward off depression. They also experience “fear of missing out” or FOMO, which further leads to feelings of isolation and loneliness.
Depressive disorders are treatable, but it’s important to seek professional help.
Bullying
About 22% of teens in the U.S. experienced bullying in 2019, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Research suggests that social media has made bullying more public and more pervasive. Cyberbullying has replaced bullying as the most common type of harassment that teens experience.
To help guard against these kinds of teen trouble, talk to your teen about bullying regularly. Discuss what they can do when they witness bullying and talk about options if they become a target themselves. Being proactive is key to helping your child deal with a bully.
Sexual Activity
In the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) survey, 38% of high school students reported that they had ever had sex; 27.4% said they were currently sexually active. That represent a decline over the past decade (46% had ever had sex in 2009, 34% were currently sexually active.)
The teen birth rate has declined over the past decade as well. In 2020, the teen birth rate was 15.4 (births for every 1,000 females ages 15-19), a decline of 8% from 2019 and 75% from the 1991 peak of 61.8. These teen births accounted for less than 5% of total births.
The decline in pregnancy doses’t necessarily mean teens are using contraceptives, however. Just over half of sexually active teens reported using a condom in their last sexual encounter, according to YRBSS data, while about 31% used hormonal birth control and 9% used both.
Drug Use
In 2021, about 3% of teens surveyed (in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades) reported using marijuana daily. Marijuana use exceeds cigarette use in teens now. In fact, many teens believe marijuana is less harmful now than in years past. This new perception may be due to the changing laws surrounding marijuana.
Teen use of other substances is declining, according to the Monitoring the Future Survey published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. While this decline has been noted since the survey began in 1975, decreases in 2021 were “steep and atypical.”
Alcohol Use
As of 2021, alcohol use and binge drinking continued to show a significant decline among teenagers. Still, 26% of high school seniors surveyed still report drinking alcohol within the past month.
Obesity
About 22% of 12- to 19-year-olds in the U.S. are obese, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Hispanic and Black children are more likely to be overweight or obese than White or Asian children.
Overweight children and teens are often targeted by bullies. Obese kids are also at a much greater risk of lifelong health problems, such as diabetes, arthritis, cancer, and heart disease.
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