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America's Youth in the 1990s

NCJ Number
166422
Editor(s)
R Bezilla
Date Published
1993
Length
318 pages
Annotation
This volume presents statistics on the attitudes, behaviors, families, education, and other characteristics of teenagers ages 13-17, based on research by the Gallup Youth Survey.
Abstract
The information on more than 100 youth issues was collected in ongoing surveys. Results revealed that teenagers' optimism about themselves is at a constant high level. Self-confidence among teenagers was at its lowest point in 1980 when 82 percent said they were satisfied with the way things were going in their personal lives; in 1992, the satisfaction level was 86 percent. They regarded friends, home, and school as the greatest influences on their generation. They regarded school grades, career uncertainties, and growing pains, fears, and getting along with parents as their most important problems. In 1992, they considered drug abuse, peer pressure, AIDS, teen pregnancy, alcohol abuse, sex, and crime and teen gangs as the most important problems facing the teen generation. Other findings related to family relationships, school, career and college plans, community service, national and political affairs, international affairs, values and religion, heroes and role models, drug abuse, law and order, health and safety, recreation and entertainment, the media, music, economics, the environment, and citizenship and rights. Figures, tables, methodological information, and index