The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States shows that the mental health of some teenagers has slightly improved compared to the pandemic period. This includes a slight decrease in the proportion of teenagers who continue to feel sad and hopeless. However, concerns still remain in various aspects such as drug abuse, sexual behavior, and experiences of bullying on school campuses. The situation of Asian American students can be described as mixed.
CDC released the “Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 2013-2023” on Tuesday, conducted by the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) under CDC. This survey provides the latest monitoring data, showing trends and changes in the health behaviors and psychological experiences of high school students in the United States over the past decade and in recent years.
In 2013, the percentage of students who reported “currently drinking alcohol,” “currently using marijuana,” and having ever used illicit drugs was 35%, 23%, and 16% respectively. These percentages have been on a declining trend over the years, reaching 22%, 17%, and 10% in 2023.
The survey found that LGBTQ+ high school students are more likely to abuse drugs compared to their heterosexual counterparts, with their likelihood being double that of cisgender and heterosexual students. Nearly a quarter of female students have engaged in drinking alcohol, and about one-fifth of female students have used marijuana.
In comparison, the lowest percentage of alcohol consumption among high school students is among Asian American students at 12%, while the percentages for American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and White students are 21%, 17%, 20%, and 26% respectively. The percentage for females is 24% and for males is 20%. Within the LGBTQ+ community, the percentage of alcohol users is 26%.
The proportion of marijuana users remains lowest among Asian American students at 7%, with American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and White students at 20%, 18%, 17%, and 18% respectively. Among LGBTQ+ students, the percentage is 25%, while it is 14% for cisgender and heterosexual groups.
The percentage of Asian American high school students who have used specific illicit drugs is 9%, while the percentages for American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and White students are 18%, 7%, 10%, and 11% respectively.
The proportion of students who have misused prescription opioids is 12%, with the rates among Asian American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and White students being 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, and 10% respectively. It is noteworthy that the percentage of high school girls misusing prescription opioids is as high as 14%, with the LGBTQ+ community having the highest rate at 18%.
Overall, compared to a decade ago, the proportion of students who have been threatened or injured with a weapon at school has increased to 9% in 2023 from 7% in 2013; the percentage of students experiencing cyberbullying has risen from 15% in 2013 to 16% in 2023; the proportion of students bullied at school was 20% in 2013 and decreased slightly to 19% in 2023. The rate of students forced into sexual intercourse was 7% in 2013 and increased to 9% in 2023. The proportion of students missing school due to safety issues was 7% in 2013, rising to 13% in 2023.
Notably, close to 20% of female students have experienced sexual violence, with 10% being forced into sexual intercourse. From 2021 to 2023, the proportion of girls missing school due to personal safety issues increased from 10% to 16%. The percentages of Asian American, Hispanic, and White students experiencing weapon threats or injuries at school, as well as missing school due to safety concerns, have all increased.
The percentage of those who have experienced sexual violence is 6% among Asian American students, while it is 15% among American Indian/Alaska Native, 9% among Black, 13% among Hispanic, and 11% among White students. Among the LGBTQ+ community, the percentage is 20%.
In comparison to ten years ago, the overall proportion of American high school students who have engaged in sexual activity decreased from 47% to 32% in 2023. The percentage of students with at least 4 sexual partners decreased from 15% to 6%, while the rate of those actively engaging in sexual activity (currently sexually active, i.e., within the past 3 months) decreased from 34% to 21%.
Looking at the situation among different ethnicities in 2023, the lowest proportion of Asian American students with sexual experience was 14%, compared to 39% for American Indian/Alaska Native, 32% for Black, 32% for Hispanic, 32% for White, and 38% for multiracial students. The proportion has increased for Asian American and multiracial students by 3 and 5 percentage points respectively from 2021 to 2023.
The percentage of students with at least 4 sexual partners is also lowest among Asian American students at 2%, while it is 12% for American Indian/Alaska Native, 7% for Black, 5% for Hispanic, and 6% for White students.
The increase in the proportion of active sexual participants is most notable among Asian American students, rising from 7% in 2021 to 11% in 2023. While the proportions among American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and White students have remained stable or slightly decreased, they still account for 35%, 21%, 20%, and 22% respectively.
In terms of mental health, in 2013, 3 out of 10 students experienced persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, which increased to 4 out of 10 students in 2023, but it decreased slightly compared to the 42% during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2023, 29% of students reported poor mental health, 16% had contemplated suicide, 20% had seriously considered suicide, and 9% had attempted suicide.
That year, the percentage of Asian American students experiencing persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness was 32%, with American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic, and White students reporting higher percentages at 45%, 40%, 42%, and 39% respectively. The LGBTQ+ community had the highest rate at 65%.
In 2023, the percentage of students with poor mental health in the past 30 days was 23% among Asian American students, while it was 42% for American Indian/Alaska Native, 27% for Black, 26% for Hispanic, and 31% for White students. Among LGBTQ+ students, this percentage reached 53%.
The rate of suicide attempts among Asian American students was 8% in 2023, while it was 11% for American Indian/Alaska Native, 10% for Black, 11% for Hispanic, and 8% for White students, but it remained highest among the LGBTQ+ community at 20%.
Regarding the CDC’s biennial “Youth Risk Behavior Survey,” Kathleen Ethier, Director of the Division of Adolescent and School Health, mentioned in an NPR interview, “When it comes to the crisis of adolescent mental health, we have not yet overcome the difficulties.”
However, she also added, “In a few key areas, we have indeed seen some small but meaningful progress.”