Theories Behavioral Psychology Overview of Youth At-Risk Behavior By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Learn about our editorial process Updated on June 09, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Aron Janssen, MD Medically reviewed by Aron Janssen, MD LinkedIn Aron Janssen, MD is board certified in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and is the vice chair of child and adolescent psychiatry Northwestern University. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Vincent Besnault / Photographer's Choice / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Tracking At-Risk Behaviors Risky Behaviors Tobacco Use Alcohol and Drug Use Sexual Behaviors Dietary Behaviors Physical Activity Parents Use of Results At-risk behavior is anything that puts youth at risk for future negative consequences, like poor health, injury or death. And while risky behavior as a teen 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. One of the reasons risky behavior is so common during adolescence is because the teen brain isn't yet fully developed. Consequently, teens struggle to think about long-term consequences. In addition, they experience the "not me" phenomenon. They never imagine that injury, pregnancy, or accidents could happen to them. Tracking At-Risk Behaviors The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracks certain youth-at-risk behaviors that they have deemed important and observable in their Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). Every two years, a report is created on different behavior categories. 6 Categories of At-Risk Behavior Behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violenceTobacco use, including when tobacco was first used, how many cigarettes are smoked per dayAlcohol and other drug useSexual behaviors that contribute to unintended pregnancy and STDs, including HIV infectionUnhealthy dietary behaviorsPhysical inactivity, including obesity and asthma Behavior That Contributes to Unintentional Injuries and Violence The 2015 YRBSS report showed these statistics about behaviors contributing to injuries and violence: 81% never or rarely wore a bicycle helmet42% of teens had emailed or texted at least once while driving8% of teens had driven after drinking within the past 30 days20% of teens had ridden with someone who had been drinking at least once in the past 30 days16% of teens had carried a weapon for at least one day during the prior 30 days Reasons That Some Teens Turn Violent Tobacco Use The 2015 YRBSS report showed these statistics about tobacco use: 32% of teens had tried a cigarette 10% smoked a cigarette within the past 30 days 2% of teens reported smoking daily Alcohol and Drug Use The 2015 YRBSS report showed these statistics with regard to alcohol and drug use: 63% of teens had had at least one drink of alcohol in their lives33% had had at least one drink in the 30 days prior to the survey18% had had five or more drinks in a row39% had used marijuana at least once in their lives22% had used marijuana at least once in the past 30 days Sexual Behaviors The 2015 YRBSS report showed these statistics with regard to sexual behavior: 41% of teens had had sexual intercourse in their lives12% of teens had sex with four or more people30% of teens had had sex with at least one person in the three months prior to the survey57% of the sexually active teenagers reported using condoms14% said they had not used any birth control methods How Multiple Sex Partners Shows Teen Risky Behavior Dietary Behaviors The dietary behaviors of teens in the 2015 YRBSS report showed: 7% had not eaten vegetables in the week prior to the survey5% had not eaten fruit or drank 100% fruit juice in the week prior to the survey38% had not drunk milk during the week prior to the survey Physical Activity Physical activity of teens in the 2015 YRBSS report showed: 14% of teens hadn't received an hour of exercise in the past week47% were physically active for 60 minutes per day on five or more days42% used a computer for things other than school works for 3 or more hours per day35% watched television for three or more hours per day How Parents Can Use the Results It's important for parents 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 32 percent of teens have tried smoking. 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. How Self-Esteem Influences Teen Sex Behavior 2 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Arain M, Haque M, Johal L, et al. Maturation of the adolescent brain. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2013;9:449–461. doi:10.2147/NDT.S39776 Kann L, McManus T, Harris WA, et al. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2015. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2016;65(No. SS-6):1–174. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss6506a1 Additional Reading "Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance — United States, 2015." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016) By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit